hrobert Posted March 14, 2009 Report Posted March 14, 2009 I recently bought an old violin at auction and it has a small - 1/16" to 3/32" bevel on all the edges of the scroll; right down to the pegbox. Never seen this. Any thoguhts?
DiemViolins Posted March 14, 2009 Report Posted March 14, 2009 Is it black stained? Picture would be of help. Frits
hrobert Posted March 14, 2009 Author Report Posted March 14, 2009 It shows traces of dark/black coloration, but the edges are well worn from handling. The other odd feature I forgot to mention is that the corner blocks, rather than smoothly transitioning to the ribs; extend about an 1/8' or so into the body and then angle back towards the ribs, giving them an almost trapezoidal profile. Violin has a Strad facsimile label dated 1716 ( all numbers printed ). Photos attached.
dracula chow mein Posted March 15, 2009 Report Posted March 15, 2009 It shows traces of dark/black coloration, but the edges are well worn from handling.The other odd feature I forgot to mention is that the corner blocks, rather than smoothly transitioning to the ribs; extend about an 1/8' or so into the body and then angle back towards the ribs, giving them an almost trapezoidal profile. Violin has a Strad facsimile label dated 1716 ( all numbers printed ). Photos attached. My heart almost stopped when I gazed on your pictures! I thought to myself, "This person doesn't know what he's got!!" The elegant chamferring of the scroll edges, The clean outline, The precise ff's showing distinctive Millenese charm, The widening of the grain on the top plate, expanding towards the flanks, The shimmering vibrance of the finely applied oil varnish, clearly showing it's connection to the old Cremonese masters. This violin SCREAMS , ITALY!!!!!! Several "tells" point to this being a very rare and valuable POS violin. I believe that it was possibly made circa 1820 in Milan, Italy, by either Mathias POS or Euginio POS. AT ANY RATE AND BY ANY MEASURE, IT IS MOST CERTAINLY A "POS"!!!!! Most of those sneaky established dealers, will not properly identify this POS for you so I recommend that you sell it on EBAY. Properly described, It may bring in the range of $20,000 like one famous unattributed POS purportedly did a couple of years ago on EBAY.
Ron1 Posted March 15, 2009 Report Posted March 15, 2009 Looks like someone has recently tried to enhance the 'clubby' appearance of the scroll by filing a chamfer on the edges- and a lousy job of it at that.
Fellow Posted March 15, 2009 Report Posted March 15, 2009 My heart almost stopped when I gazed on your pictures! I thought to myself, "This person doesn't know what he's got!!"The elegant chamferring of the scroll edges, The clean outline, The precise ff's showing distinctive Millenese charm, The widening of the grain on the top plate, expanding towards the flanks, The shimmering vibrance of the finely applied oil varnish, clearly showing it's connection to the old Cremonese masters. This violin SCREAMS , ITALY!!!!!! Several "tells" point to this being a very rare and valuable POS violin. I believe that it was possibly made circa 1820 in Milan, Italy, by either Mathias POS or Euginio POS. AT ANY RATE AND BY ANY MEASURE, IT IS MOST CERTAINLY A "POS"!!!!! Most of those sneaky established dealers, will not properly identify this POS for you so I recommend that you sell it on EBAY. Properly described, It may bring in the range of $20,000 like one famous unattributed POS purportedly did a couple of years ago on EBAY. ++++++++++++++++++++++ I don't see anyrhing unusual about it. Only Italian luthiers know how to make it. Come on?
hrobert Posted March 15, 2009 Author Report Posted March 15, 2009 Any thoughts on the beveled corner blocks. Never even heard of that.
Brad Dorsey Posted March 15, 2009 Report Posted March 15, 2009 "The elegant chamferring of the scroll edges, The clean outline, The precise ff's showing distinctive Millenese charm, The widening of the grain on the top plate, expanding towards the flanks, The shimmering vibrance of the finely applied oil varnish, clearly showing it's connection to the old Cremonese masters. This violin SCREAMS , ITALY!!!!!!" No overtones?
zinomaniac Posted March 15, 2009 Report Posted March 15, 2009 A guy can't ask a simple question around here!
andrew weinstein Posted March 15, 2009 Report Posted March 15, 2009 I think youshould sell it to Dracula for $10,000 and let him sell it on ebay
luthier Posted March 15, 2009 Report Posted March 15, 2009 I think youshould sell it to Dracula for $10,000 and let him sell it on ebay I'll second that.
Bob A Posted March 15, 2009 Report Posted March 15, 2009 All the wags above notwithstanding, chamfering the edges of a scroll is not terribly uncommon, and goes back a long time. Frequently the edge is also colored black, to add a bit more drama. Hope you enjoy your fiddle.
JohnCockburn Posted March 15, 2009 Report Posted March 15, 2009 It seems like a perfectly conventional scroll to me, except for the rather wide chamfer on the outer wall of the pegbox. Am I missing something?
hrobert Posted March 15, 2009 Author Report Posted March 15, 2009 I'm gonna keep playin this number till it comes up; What about those beveled corner blocks?
Janito Posted March 15, 2009 Report Posted March 15, 2009 What about those beveled corner blocks? Without a picture or a drawing it is difficult to determine what is usual or unusual. My guess is that they are blocks that have not been taken back to the linings and the protruding edges have been chamfered. Cn you visualise what I am describing? If not, see here: http://www.darntonviolins.com/images_ethan/cribinsert.jpg The block is then shaped 'to taste'.
hrobert Posted March 16, 2009 Author Report Posted March 16, 2009 Attached is jpg sketch of what they look like.
pahdah_hound Posted March 16, 2009 Report Posted March 16, 2009 My heart almost stopped when I gazed on your pictures! I thought to myself, "This person doesn't know what he's got!!"The elegant chamferring of the scroll edges, The clean outline, The precise ff's showing distinctive Millenese charm, The widening of the grain on the top plate, expanding towards the flanks, The shimmering vibrance of the finely applied oil varnish, clearly showing it's connection to the old Cremonese masters. This violin SCREAMS , ITALY!!!!!! Several "tells" point to this being a very rare and valuable POS violin. I believe that it was possibly made circa 1820 in Milan, Italy, by either Mathias POS or Euginio POS. AT ANY RATE AND BY ANY MEASURE, IT IS MOST CERTAINLY A "POS"!!!!! Most of those sneaky established dealers, will not properly identify this POS for you so I recommend that you sell it on EBAY. Properly described, It may bring in the range of $20,000 like one famous unattributed POS purportedly did a couple of years ago on EBAY. "POS" the name rang a bell. As soon as I read the post I knew I had heard of such a thing before but couldn't quite put my finger on it. There is no listing for any POS family in Henley, nor have I heard of anyone by that name. Then I thunk to myself, POS - could that be an acronym of the rather vulgar American phrase "Piece Of $)-(!T"? If so, and methinks it probably is, taken the user name, then old Vlad seems to have been pulling our collective legs here. I didn't think ISOC had made a comeback although the tone sounded surprisingly similar. J
andrew weinstein Posted March 16, 2009 Report Posted March 16, 2009 Jesse, What's next, you're going to tell us that Dracula isn't his real name? I don't see anything unusual in the blocks or the scroll myself
Fellow Posted March 17, 2009 Report Posted March 17, 2009 I recently bought an old violin at auction and it has a small - 1/16" to 3/32" bevel on all the edges of the scroll;right down to the pegbox. Never seen this. Any thoguhts? +++++++++++++++++++ The violin looks quite pleasing , not outrageously uncommon, to me. Unfortunately there are two long cracks on the top. The sound may be compromised. Would you think so? As a German luthier (schmidt ? )n his website indicated, the vibration of the top is similar to the surface of an ocean. It goes up and down the stress (or force) distribution would be different if the surface are repaired. Just my concern.
hrobert Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Posted March 18, 2009 Thanks, I liked the looks too. Think cracks will be O.K. As far as the rather bizarre "leg-pulling"...don't see the humor let alone the POINT. I was just looking for info. Turns out the jokes on Drac...I bought this for 60 bucks at auction. I wonder if he'd like to bet that 20 g's that I don't make a profit?
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