Aurella

Ah true

Just stick an endoscope in to have a look around, much easier.

Thanks for the feedback!

I was wondering if the head of this bow rings any bells for anyone? I rather like the look of it. The plate appears to be metal. I'm not sure about the style of eye ring on the frog either.

They all look much of a muchness. Is there any way you're able to hear recordings or have a chance to test them out? If you're spending that much on a violin, one would be aiming to try out several instruments in person if possible. Tone, resonance, responsiveness, ease of playability are all important, and a violin can look quite pretty but be a dud to play - or just not suit the player or the bow.

I had a violin that was so ridiculously resonant you could feel the vibrations in your teeth as you played it! That was fixed simply by switching to a heavier centre mount chinrest.

https://violins.com.au/shop/category/instruments-violins-advanced-violins-15

It looks mid 20th century or later to me.

It's easiest to just look through the f holes and endpin hole. If I need to I shine a little torch as well. Endoscopes can be useful but I don't see how they would make setting a soundpost easier.

It might be best to take it to a luthier - it will need quite a lot of specialised work done such as fitting a new fingerboard, bridge, and resetting the soundpost. It looks like a late 19th or early 20th century German workshop instrument.

I have an old built on back violin, very thin, without purfling and with linen linings to the ribs and also as corner reinforcements (instead of blocks). It's been repaired and altered so many times - I call it my "frankenviolin" The top has been patched in places with a veneer, and the back has a long recently cleated repair. The neck is a through neck, possibly an early 19th century addition as it isn't a precise fit and is made in a more elegant style. It is "full length" (albeit slim), whereas the violin is only 7/8. The pegholes were bushed, possibly later 19th century as there is a repair label from that time. Is there any good way to know whether this would be earlier or later built on back? I don't know if the linen strips are any help in identifying. The corner linen is not the same type as the ribs so could have been added at a different time (or then again maybe not). Can provide pics if anyone is interested.

It shouldn't be less desirable, but I guess people have more of a bias against Markneukirchen. That being said, there are some truly crappy mass produced Mirecourt violins as well. Outside mould is no guarantee of quality.

I don't think the varnish is particularly Markneukirchen. It looks rather post WW1 to me. I have upper end Laberte and JTL violins in that caramel shade. I also have quite a nice German workshop violin from around the same time in the same shade which could almost pass for Mirecourt, if you don't look at the corners and pegbox.

I think you'd still be getting your money's worth. It wouldn't be very difficult to clean it up and fix up the varnish. I bet it sounds quite good.

The flat eye is also quite French