Juzek 1938 Master Art - Where to Auction/Sell

[SteveH]

I've had my father's Juzek 1938 Master Art violin (Strad model, No 364, Prague) for around 30 years, and now would like to sell it.  I would appreciate any guidance and opinion regarding where and how to realize the best value for it.  I've considered auctions, but wonder which one ... for example in Europe, US (east or west), exclusive instrument auction, general antique auction, etc ?  Then there are numerous violin shops (higher commissions?) ... and again, what area might be best for a fine Juzek ?  I am located in SE Michigan.

I'm not an expert, but I feel this is one of the most beautiful violins I have seen; it is in excellent condition (no issues), has a neck graft, but the diamond tailpiece was "misplaced" by a repair shop years ago.  The sound is robust and bright.  Some pics are attached.  A big thank you for your thoughts !

 

 

[ChicagoDogs]

Apologies if this is a let down,  butI'd refer to this for some background:

The violin looks like a nice instrument but it's not going to draw attention in an auction.  I would suggest taking it to a local violin shop for consignment.  These are also very popular among fiddle players, and Elderly Instruments in Lansing might be a good consignment location as a result.

 

[zhiyi_zhang617]

A handsome Marki, but not necessarily a typical early Juzek MA based on the limited photos. Ignore me as I don't know a thing.

[phutatorius]

I'd second the advice to go to Elderly in Lansing.  If it shows up there, I'll even go down and give it a look myself.  Elderly will want 20% as a commission, I believe.  Brian, who runs the violin shop is quite knowledgeable.  I have sold instruments there successfully over the years.  If you visit Elderly with your violin, go on Thursday afternoon.  Craigslist, Skinner's and T2 are other options. 

 

[deans]

C-Dogs suggestion is a good one.

But I wouldn't rule out auctions either, several Juzeks have sold at Tarisio T2 with good results. This one looks like a solid serviceable instrument, and would likely do much better than the most recent batch of Juzeks on T2.

[PhilipKT]

Lovely violin. I’m mildly disappointed that it doesn’t have the ivory shield on the back as did a lot of early master arts.

poo on those who say it’s not worth much. About 20 years ago I bought a perfect condition Master art(also without the ivory shield but used so little it still had the original bridge) which wasn’t one of the more desirable patterns( not sure, maybe it was a Gagliano pattern?) and I sold it almost immediately for $3300. After about 5 years the owner sold it at the same violin shop for about 5 K.

Is there a bow with the violin?

[jacobsaunders]

7 hours ago, PhilipKT said:

 

poo on those who say it’s not worth much.

 

 

It's  not worth much

 

[deans]

At auction this particular one should easily be in the 4 figures, probably well into that. "Not much" is relative.

And yes, its a trade instrument, nobody here in the US thinks otherwise, except shady vest pocket dealers and ebay sellers.

[Wood Butcher]

29 minutes ago, deans said:

And yes, its a trade instrument, nobody here in the US thinks otherwise, except shady vest pocket dealers and ebay sellers.

It's interesting though how it's one of those names people have particularly latched onto and venerate.

A similar quality Schonbach violin would probably sell for much less without this name attached, and as time rolls on, the history surrounding these trade names becomes blurred, or embellished. More so as the majority of these do seem to be traded on Ebay, or less than stellar dealers.

I'm sure there are many out there who believe, or were told at the time of purchase, that their instrument was made personally by Mr Roth, Mr Collin-Mezin, Mr Juzek.... I think it's because of this thinking that they command the prices they do.
Perhaps it is considered a safe bet, or a known quantity, but I can't see why they go for so much more than an equal instrument from the same time and place.

[Blank face]

52 minutes ago, deans said:

At auction this particular one should easily be in the 4 figures, probably well into that. "Not much" is relative.

I guess that ca. 75% of this sum is for the "tiny little paper" only. No wonder that there are considerations to produce  and maybe sell them seperately.

BTW,  I'm gonna make a copyright claim for "Juhn Jozek fecit Prugae".

[deans]

In my experience there doesnt seem to be any premium for the Juzek name compared to other trade instruments. In fact its opposite, the better examples are dragged down by the much more numerous junky school grade instruments. 

[SteveH]

A sincere thanks to all who provided two or more cents to this topic.  Is there any additional info regarding where to market the violin to achieve best value ... maybe west coast or orient .. where Metropolitan Music is not ?   Been to Elderly in Lansing, MI many times ... many fiddle-type instruments ... but good thought.

Per PhilipKT,  I've never see one with an ivory shield ?  I have also attached a couple more pics.

No bow, but I could throw one in if that would help :-)

 

 

[PhilipKT]

2 hours ago, jacobsaunders said:

It's  not worth much

Well how much is not much is certainly a wide range, but I’d expect an honest price to be somewhat above well-made modern Chinese instruments.

This violin is in pristine condition, and is well-made of good wood and has 80 years of age to it.

The Master Art being offered on EBay for $16,000 made me laugh, but Around here good Chinese instruments sell for up to 4-5k.  And I would expect this instrument to bring a similar amount. 

[zhiyi_zhang617]

12 hours ago, Blank face said:

I guess that ca. 75% of this sum is for the "tiny little paper" only. No wonder that there are considerations to produce  and maybe sell them seperately.

BTW,  I'm gonna make a copyright claim for "Juhn Jozek fecit Prugae".

Fully agree, this is the key to the value of early Juzek MA; hope the OP violin has a legitimate MA label.

The distinctive rim of the backside of scroll would be another unique feature of an early Juzek MA (only MA grade), especially if there is no ivory shield or the MA label,

[Jwillis]

I have a 1921 ma strad pattern Juzek and feel that to replace it w a comparable performing violin you are looking at the 5-10k price tag retail.  Now I’m not saying all are good I’m just saying mine works well.  Btw...It’s just a backup. I hold no loyalty to juzek labeled instruments;)

[PhilipKT]

2 hours ago, Jwillis said:

I have a 1921 ma strad pattern Juzek and feel that to replace it w a comparable performing violin you are looking at the 5-10k price tag retail.  Now I’m not saying all are good I’m just saying mine works well.  Btw...It’s just a backup. I hold no loyalty to juzek labeled instruments;)

I agree completely. I have actually never played  or even seen a cello master art, but I have owned two master art violins and seen countless others that were not master arts.  There is a large difference between the master art instruments and the others. The top line Juzeks Are very well-made instruments using good wood,, good varnish, good construction techniques, and they have real value. To replace the violin in these photographs with a modern instrument of comparable quality would cost several thousand dollars. I suppose I understand why people sneer at these instruments as mere factory Germans,  but good factory instruments from that era,  And let us fervently stress the “good,” are quite worthwhile, and I would expect this violin to go for five or $6000, because because that’s at least how much it would cost to get equivalent quality in a modern instrument.

[PhilipKT]

 By the way, I have also owned three excellent Morelli violins. I think they were probably a bit better than the Juzek Master Arts I owned.  Is there any agreement about which was better?  Did they come from the same source?

[deans]

23 minutes ago, PhilipKT said:

Did they come from the same source?

Very likely. It seems that Juzeks came from many different shops. The Master Arts from the 1960s-1980s seem to be almost the same as higher grade Roman Tellers, and sell for about the same amount, they must also be from the same source too.

[zhiyi_zhang617]

6 hours ago, deans said:

Very likely. It seems that Juzeks came from many different shops. The Master Arts from the 1960s-1980s seem to be almost the same as higher grade Roman Tellers, and sell for about the same amount, they must also be from the same source too.

That could be the reason why the Juzek MA between the wars and those after WW2 are completely different species, and why everyone who knows Juzek violins much prefers the former.

OP violin appears to be a nice Juzek MA Stad copy, and is a keeper if made in 1938!

[SteveH]

Thanks to everyone for all your useful thoughts.  I wonder if there are any more informed opinions regarding the best manner in which to achieve the greatest sale value ?

[Televet]

There is no reason to assume the date on the label is related to the date that this fiddle was made. Reread the thread Jacob referenced above.

[martin swan]

6 hours ago, SteveH said:

Thanks to everyone for all your useful thoughts.  I wonder if there are any more informed opinions regarding the best manner in which to achieve the greatest sale value ?

Sell it on consignment through an expensive shop in a part of the world where they like Juzeks ...

I don't think it would achieve any kind of price in auction.

Though if the sound is "robust and bright" maybe best put it into auction 

 

[Violadamore]

Strictly IMHO:

1) Juzeks are a merely a subspecies of late-model "Markie", and so are Roths and the rest of the variously labeled trade violins that were produced first in the environs of Markneukirchen, and later, post WWII, in Bubenreuth.

2) Outside commercial mythology, all are varying grades of workshop fiddles, and none were ever genuinely "benchmade".  In other words, none qualify as "fine art".

3).  So, you're arguing a similar difference in ranking to that between "streetwalker", "courtesan", and "geisha", but with no essential change in the underlying reality.

Everybody follow that? 

 

 

[uguntde]

There is now a Facebook group to sell violins ... trying to look more serious than ebay. What I have seen there was massively overpriced or rubbish.

[PhilipKT]

2 hours ago, Violadamore said:

 

3).  So, you're arguing a similar difference in ranking to that between "streetwalker", "courtesan", and "geisha", but with no essential change in the underlying reality.

I just posted a query about the minimum value of such a fiddle. In this case the main question is which is more likely to be clean!

so yes there is a distinct difference!

;-)