Richf

My one experience in filing a claim on a damaged bow was that the insurance company asked me to get two appraisals. Nothing in the policy had mentioned that, so you might ask your insurer what they require. Also before paying the claim, they took the bow. I wonder what happened to it -- I would have liked to have kept the frog. If relevant, I filed my claim with my homeowners policy, not with one of the musical instrument insurors. Also, happy St. Martin's Day, Martin.

IMHO best to post directly on MN -- even if you have to wait for eligibility with the minimum number of posts. From imgur: "Just a friendly PSA, for those who haven't already noticed. There are accounts created on imgur solely to scam you and get your information."

For the record, here is the auction description for Einstein's 1884 Zunterer violin: https://www.dominicwinter.co.uk/Auction/Lot/lot-258---einsteins-violin-a-german-violin-formerly-belonging-to-albert-einstein-late-19th-century/?lot=418361&so=0&st=violin&sto=0&au=876&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=0&pp=48&pn=1&g=1 . And for posterity, since these auction records often vanish, here are a few photos from that description. Anton trained at the violinmaking school in Mittenwald and was a founding member of the Association of German Violinmakers and Bowmakers. Examples of his work don't seem to be very common -- at least here in the US. I have a fiddle by Franz Ramftler, who in 1884 was still operating the shop where Zunterer worked. Zunterer took over the shop from Ramftler in 1888, although Ramftler was still active making violins in 1892, based on the label in my violin.

Quick aside. Would an original viola fingerboard from France circa 1900 have a beveled surface for the C string? (Not present on OP’s instrument.) Just curious how long that feature was common in France or elsewhere—if ever.

Blank Face is referring to the rounded “track” on this bow: I thought the term “Vuillaume slide” for that feature was common.

Just to complete the list of suppliers..... According to the Grunke et al. book "German Bow Makers," in addition to the Christian Suss and Albert Nurnberger bows, Suss'es grandson Albin Nurnberger-Suss and both Herbert and Alfred Leicht supplied Hammig as well. Photos of bows with the WH Hammig Leipzig stamp from different makers appear in the Grunke book, in the Babbitt and Chin book "The German Bow." and in the VDG book "Bogenmacherfamilie Albert Nurnberger. I suspect the Babbitt book on Markneukirchen makers could have photos, too.

$100 is cheap for a good lesson on what not to buy.

Good job! It seems so obvious once you know. And agreed, nothing to do with Antoniazzi. But maybe French trade work?

Deciphering old labels can always be fun, even it doesn't lead anywhere. Try shining a blue light on it.

For a deeper dive on J. Jais, this discussion is very useful: https://maestronet.com/forum/index.php?/topic/332205-joannes-jais-violin-id/

FWIW your violin looks nothing like the two Anton Jais violins pictured in the Walter Hamma book -- not the outline, not the f holes, not the scroll, not the finish, not the label. Still, a nice looking instrument.

For further information: www.ebay.com/itm/136296706967

FWIW I always find it suspicious when the old fittings seem appropriate to an old instrument and yet the finish is somehow pristine, especially under the bridge. Unless you have reason to think it was expertly refinished very recently, I would go with the”it’s a trap” theory.

For the record, the tax savings for the Fultons will be paid from tax revenues collected elsewhere, which is why the IRS has taken a hard look at the valuations for such contributions in the past. I hope the Library will keep this viola in the same public room with their Strad, Amati, and Guarneri violins so that we can see it.

Shocking ! Anyone have a nice Giofreddo Cappa?