ibrusz Posted May 31, 2022 Report Share Posted May 31, 2022 Hi there I have an old-looking violin, purchased in the 80’s. At the time it was attributed to Andrea Castagneri. Would you agree with this? It doesn’t have a label and doesn’t look like your typical Castagneri violin, but has some similarities, I agree. It was recently valued for insurance purposes by Bromptons at £13,000. Thanks for your input in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobsaunders Posted May 31, 2022 Report Share Posted May 31, 2022 I suppose it is one of those 19th C French ones, where nobody knows which one is which Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibrusz Posted May 31, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2022 20 minutes ago, jacobsaunders said: I suppose it is one of those 19th C French ones, where nobody knows which one is which If it's 19th century, that would certainly rule out Castagneri. The cut-out in the pegbox is not the semi-circular one seen in many Castagneri's for sure.. But other features point towards him, such as the wide sound holes and the arching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strad O Various Jr. Posted May 31, 2022 Report Share Posted May 31, 2022 Shouldn't a Castagneri have a neck scroll graft? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spelman Posted May 31, 2022 Report Share Posted May 31, 2022 It does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibrusz Posted June 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2022 It does have a grafted neck, that's for sure. So what do you all think? Could this be by Andrea Castagneri or more likely an 19th century french violin? Consistency was a big issue for Castagneri hence attribution is not easy, I know, I'm just hoping that someone would be able to conclude something a bit more definite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibrusz Posted June 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2022 I had a friend who works at a UK auction house saying it is a 19th century German violin - I don't think it is, but what do you think? Most likely French, I'd say.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blank face Posted June 4, 2022 Report Share Posted June 4, 2022 To tell more the photos should be definitely more in focus and showing more details, lower rib, rib joints, scroll fluting etc. Castagneri appears to be very unlikely IMO,19th century French more probably than Saxony. But it seems to have lost the biggest part of its varnish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uguntde Posted June 4, 2022 Report Share Posted June 4, 2022 What is typically French with this violin? This is a nice instrument. £13,000 is a house number if one can't establish a maker, let alone the country of origin. I would not give much on a certificate by Bromptons. If I wanted to know more I would visit Vatelot for French or otherwise Hiereonymus Koestler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhiyi_zhang617 Posted June 4, 2022 Report Share Posted June 4, 2022 3 hours ago, uguntde said: What is typically French with this violin? This is a nice instrument. £13,000 is a house number if one can't establish a maker, let alone the country of origin. I would not give much on a certificate by Bromptons. If I wanted to know more I would visit Vatelot for French or otherwise Hiereonymus Koestler. Interestingly, have we all forgottten the famous checklist? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhiyi_zhang617 Posted June 4, 2022 Report Share Posted June 4, 2022 19 hours ago, uguntde said: What is typically French with this violin? This is a nice instrument. £13,000 is a house number if one can't establish a maker, let alone the country of origin. I would not give much on a certificate by Bromptons. If I wanted to know more I would visit Vatelot for French or otherwise Hiereonymus Koestler. Not sure one has to visit Vatelot or Koestler:https://reverb.com/item/29255921-andrea-castagneri-fine-french-italian-violin Anyhow, it might still be good enough as a player nonetheless... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin swan Posted June 5, 2022 Report Share Posted June 5, 2022 This is unquestionably not a Castagneri, nor is it 18th century French, unless just the body a very late 18th C Mirecourt "Chappuy". Outside chance it could be an early 19th century Mirecourt with the varnish heavily modified and a later MK scroll, I suppose a dendro could clarify that. Personally I don't see much reason why the whole thing couldn't equally be Markneukirchen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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