Fellow Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Hi All, I have an old violin without a label. Should I put one label there? ( I don't know what to do and uncomfortable without a label ) Of course by a luthier. Thank you for any advice. PS. I feel that the violin has been mistreated as being one without its identity. Why it should have no label? Forever? /yuen/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken_barlow Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 I don't understand why you would want to do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_W Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 For motive, take a look at the Tarisio auction. Though February's sale is for 'speculative' instruments, one still finds that labeled violins attract more interest. I wouldn't be at all surprised if many of the false labels in older instruments were inserted at the behest of owners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apartmentluthier Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 What would you put on the label if it has no label? "Unlabeled Violin" ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken_barlow Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Quote: For motive, take a look at the Tarisio auction. Though February's sale is for 'speculative' instruments, one still finds that labeled violins attract more interest. I wouldn't be at all surprised if many of the false labels in older instruments were inserted at the behest of owners. It never crossed my mind for one moment that Mr Yuen would wish to do something that was less than scrupulously honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thom Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 How do you know who made the violin? How can you get that maker's label? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guta Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 There has been much discussion of old German violins on this board, but I would like your feedback on the sound, playing qualities and especially projection of instruments such as Klotz, Widhalm, Roth, Glass and others. Has anyone tested these kinds of instruments in a solo playing situation? Keith, I know you love your early Roth, I also have one which I play all the time but never in a hall. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guta Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 sorry, beginners flub. Was trying to start new topic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regis Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Good question. Or, how about acoustical (tone) copies or counterfits of the famous Italian violins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guta Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 sorry, beginners flub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_W Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Ken, I'm sure yuen would not do anything amiss. I'm speaking of owners who wish to keep their violins, but need reassurance. I know for a fact that dealers have inserted labels for their clients as a sort of harmless and inexpensive attribution. Wasn't there an anecdote about that in A Thousand Mornings Of Music? I think I recall it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellow Posted February 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Hi, I know you did not ask me. I have a Stainer model German violin like you said, it is not concert hall kind of violins you think. My reason of saying so is that I feel they do not have enough power so not project well enough (good sound though, whereas some contemporary American made violins have noticeably better power). Just one person's observation. /yuen/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbow Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 Yuen, I agree your violin needs a label! The label might say: "A violin from the private collection of Yuen, a connoisseur of instruments of fine tone and beauty.... anno 2005" How could anyone quarrel with that? I have an old "Strad" book with a label: "Ex Libris Ernest J Doring" I cherish it and every time I pick it up I feel I have a bit of history in my hand! Your 'labeled' violin may elicit a similar sentimental attachment by a future owner... and possibly even enhance the value. Jimbow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellow Posted February 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 Good idea, Jimbow How about a few words about " Stradivarious with no label" found in America ? /yuen/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth_Leigh Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 I like Michael's idea, or else: "Real, honest-to-goodness Stradivarius, cuz my grandpappy brung it over from Italy 300 years ago!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.Hayes Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 Wouldn't a label denoting the maker whose model or character has been followed be appropriate? This is what the majority of the violins in the world have in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Reuning Posted February 16, 2005 Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 Yuen, I would urge you to leave the violin as you found it. A fake label jumps out like a sore thumb and in my view, actually detracts from the violin. It shows to the auction buyer, for instance, that the violin has been recently tampered with rather than recently discovered from a little old lady's attic. A violin needs to stand on it's own merits and a fake label is going to fool very few people. Even those who don't yet have a lot of experience with I.D. can still spot a phony label. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyAmati Posted February 16, 2005 Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 I agree with Mr. Reuning. Since you'll never know if the label you put in accurately represents the violin, it will make people suspicious of the violin. However a vanity label, like maybe with your name on it, or a verse or a name you give the violin is probably harmless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_W Posted February 16, 2005 Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 In general I agree with Chris--violin labels simply muddy the waters, inasmuch as the violin itself usually outlives the owner, leaving future generations to puzzle out the sometimes-not-so-obvious misattribution. In the end, though, the fiddle is yuen's property. He can do with it what he pleases. Personally, all the more interesting violins I've come in contact with have had no labels, making the mystery more fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellow Posted February 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 Hi, True, very true. I feel sorry the violin has been mistreated. No identity. ( factory workers are humble honest beings) Just my thought. Thank you. /yuen/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noahmyviolin Posted February 16, 2005 Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 I wouldn't put a vanity label on. If you really want something that will enhance it nevertheless, how about a repair label by a violin maker? Give the fiddle an overhaul or appraisal check. I think that might lend more weight to a label, if the violin maker agrees to putting his name down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Curtis Posted February 16, 2005 Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 Not too many violinmakers are willing to put in repair labels these days --no matter how good a job you do, it's too easy to get blamed for both old and future bad repairs. --Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyAmati Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Quote: Hi, True, very true. I feel sorry the violin has been mistreated. No identity. ( factory workers are humble honest beings) Just my thought. Thank you. /yuen/ Yep, no respect. I noticed at the latest Tarisio auction that an unlabeled French violin #293 got no bids, even though it looked pretty good to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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