Dwight Brown

It's cool :-) I am pretty slow. DLB

The viola went for 1,100,000.00 lower than I thought. The Guad violin about the same. Indiana University sold some fairly big deal stuff. Did it go with them closing their violin making program? I don't really have any idea. DLB

I meant you may need to see a lawyer to navigate the probably complicated situation. DLB

I would do my best to find out which insurance company was involved. The best thing you can do is be completely up front and honest with all concerned. You may want to talk with a lawyer as well. DLB

Had To, With Italian subtitles to boot :-) I will go to my room now...... DLB

He needs no defense but as you are new here and not aware this forum has some folks like me who are duffers and nobodies and it has world renowned experts in instrument identification, restoration, and violin making. Mr. Holmes is one of the latter and I am one of the former. If I had a 10 million dollar instrument in need of repair or restoration Maestro Holmes would be my first call every time. He has handled and worked on instruments by every famous maker any of the rest of us have only dreamed of. There are others here in that category as well. We do get a remarkable number of people coming by this forum with a remarkable number of old, but not at all valuable instruments almost all get an answer. You mentioned Chicago. If you are near there I would make an appointment with Bein and Fushi or a number of other well known shops. I am sure there are recommendations for Madison as well. Some of the folks here have spent their whole lives acquiring the knowledge necessary to identify the work of historic makers some even are just the latest generation of their family in the trade. Again, I think you were treated fairly and you mistake fairly quick judgement for rudeness. Again at least three of these gentleman are experts I would trust my own checkbook to. In other words if they said to buy a particular instrument or not to buy one I would trust my meager means to them. Tens of thousands not millions in my case but a lot to me. If you will let us know where you are we can send you to a qualified person who can give your viola a careful look. Yours Respectfully, Dwight DLB

I was afraid of that. Chinese? DLB

I think the bridge is broken in half with just the lower half left. DLB

If it is real it is worth quite good money. It looks like it has nice fittings and like it has been well looked after. The date on the label is within the maker's lifetime. It certainly looks at least interesting much better than the usual. I am certain some much better educated and skilled will chime in. If you could let us know where you are we may be able to send you to a reliable expert who will treat you well. Yours Respectfully, Dwight DLB

The way I see it as a player and a collector the integrity of the back is very much in question. A modern maker has so many choices of really nice wood to choose from and you are going to put just as much work into a questionable piece as a wonderful one. Plain wood is fine but I don't care for tons of knots or big knots. Then again I could be full of cheese :-) DLB

Not so much, but I have no idea of the circumstances at the time. DLB

A book of full size molds made from scans of important instruments would be pretty cool. I'm such a geek...... DLB

Is the Primrose still in the Berlin Philharmonic? DLB

Same mold we guess.? DLB

The Primrose went for about four million. This could do a lot as well. DLB