Jeny Mahon

Am I the only one wondering what the other two fiddles are? Also, is there any way you can arrange help for your mom to pack and ship them for her? That's quite a job even for folks that do it regularly. Most online auction houses will refer you to a UPS or similar for packing and shipping services, so maybe you can contact one nearby?

It's gorgeous! Congrats

I admit I've never lived in a house with a garage door opened with a remote. But I do know that isn't a quiet operation! My first thought was HOW did they not hear the garage door rattling open at 3:45 in the morning?

Definitely not! It's so nice to see pretty things like this occasionally. And lucky OP!

Not sure about the marks on the top, they kinda look like dings to me. But what's this on the back?

@fragslapThanks for sharing! I think it's awesome how excited everybody at Tarisio were to have TwoSet come by. The DaVinci sounds amazing, I wonder if it will break the record? That vault though...

Mon Dieu!

I'm sure Jacob could explain the "Fussen diaspora" for the class

@matesic WINS!!

As Jacob said, it's a Dutzendarbeit. I don't think it's a copy of anything, I've just seen a kabillion of these with any number of fake labels, and Steiner was the first one I thought of. There's a reason the label is the last thing we should look at; the vast majority of the time the label is fake and has zero to do with the instrument.

Pretty nasty bassbar crack.

I was thinking the same thing. Hope everything is OK.

Not sure if it will help or not, but I found this on eBay. It looks (to me, anyway, I'm not an expert) more like the "Derazey" branded/labeled Mirecourt fiddles I've seen a few times. https://www.ebay.com/itm/224904326452?hash=item345d57ad34:g:wR0AAOSwM~diPbbN

Definitely! We'll fix it up and see how it sounds

Yeah, I know. Needs much more work than it's worth. But as my long-suffering teacher will tell you, I am a sucker for this stuff So I wanted to share this little American fiddle with y'all and see what you think of it. The original red varnish with its wonky painted stripes, and the handwritten label are all still there 181 years later. After 20 years collecting fiddles, I do understand this is not commercially viable. It's OK. I just like it The maker is mentioned here. https://www.afvbm.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/THE-HISTORICAL-SIGNIFICANCE-Warren-White.pdf Also my investigator husband who grew up in Baldwinville MA did a bit of searching, screenshots attached. Photos aren't the best, bad lighting in Seattle today. I can post more later if needed.

Ah, OK that makes sense. I was trying to imagine the whole thing that color

The article lists Alex's email address at the bottom and says to contact him that way. Unsurprisingly, "gofundme" isn't available there. I assume there is an alternate way to get funds to him. Here it is: "Anyone who is able to help Smykovskyi can contact him at alex.maker.1210@gmail.com"

Yes, we have the same issue in America all the time

Are these remnants of the original varnish color?

Ah, OK thank you!

The older fiddle has the pre-bushed peg holes, ebony crown and the "fancy" pegs on it. Weren't the MA Juzeks made that way? Doubtful it's one of those unless someone absconded with the entire label. Antonio Serafino is obviously made up, but I didn't see any listing for that trade name online. Anyway not really sure what those features tell us if anything. Could just be a decent Markie and maybe the bushings and crown were honestly come by?

>>changes screen name immediately<<

Is it this one? https://www.ebay.com/itm/134042955932

Oh man... that's right, I had one of those like 20 years ago and sold it about a month after I got it! I think it was labeled "Gerbruder Schuster". Not with a duck head but the same sort of outline and the same wood on the back. Thanks, next time I'll DM you here

We just watched it on Saturday, I agree it was fantastic! The soundtrack has been firmly lodged in my brain ever since