geoff1954 Posted September 30, 2020 Report Share Posted September 30, 2020 I have a violin labelled Mathias Thomas Werrer It has some other words, unreadable, but the date 1716 or 1776 The only reference I can find to this luthier is in Henley. The brief description of his work matches my violin. Henley give no dates or places. Google provides nothing at all. I wonder if anyone can provide any extra information on this obscure maker? The violin has back and ribs from birds eye maple, so the marks you see are not worm holes and not crude antiquing. It does have blocks in the lower corners. I can't see the upper. The neck joint appears not to nave been altered at all, which would point to a German 19th C copy. But the pegbox appears to have been skillfully grafted. (Or are those just scored lines to make it look grafted?) Any help would be appreciated. It seems strange that anyone would want to copy the label of such an obscure maker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobsaunders Posted September 30, 2020 Report Share Posted September 30, 2020 Looks like a late 19th C Saxon box to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratcliffiddles Posted September 30, 2020 Report Share Posted September 30, 2020 46 minutes ago, jacobsaunders said: Looks like a late 19th C Saxon box to me Totally agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delabo Posted September 30, 2020 Report Share Posted September 30, 2020 1 hour ago, geoff1954 said: It seems strange that anyone would want to copy the label of such an obscure maker. Its a clever trick and its used because it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff1954 Posted September 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2020 Thanks for your replies. I thought it was worth an inquiry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeH Posted September 30, 2020 Report Share Posted September 30, 2020 2 hours ago, geoff1954 said: But the pegbox appears to have been skillfully grafted. (Or are those just scored lines to make it look grafted?) Neck graft is fake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delabo Posted September 30, 2020 Report Share Posted September 30, 2020 We are always being told here that neck grafts are no big deal and to ignore them. So if that's true why are there so many fake grafts out there ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobsaunders Posted September 30, 2020 Report Share Posted September 30, 2020 4 minutes ago, Delabo said: So if that's true why are there so many fake grafts out there ? To lead idiots up the garden path Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeH Posted September 30, 2020 Report Share Posted September 30, 2020 9 minutes ago, Delabo said: So if that's true why are there so many fake grafts out there ? It can be part of "antiquing," not necessarily meant to deceive. And I don't think that genuine neck grafts should be "ignored," but they should not be used as a primary indicator of the age of a violin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth E. Posted September 30, 2020 Report Share Posted September 30, 2020 4 hours ago, geoff1954 said: I have a violin labelled Mathias Thomas Werrer Thanks for posting. A great learning thread for a lot of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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