Does this seem under valued??

[Dwight Brown]

https://ingleshayday.com/auction/1023-3/violin-by-amati-andrea-lot193/
 

Considering the rarity of A.Amati instruments (22 now?) this seems a pretty low estimate.

DLB

[jacobsaunders]

doesn’t seem to have papers (not mentioned anyway), or a label, is a bit small, has a replacement head, and it seems a soundpost crack in the back on a superficial look, but perhaps it’s your big chance

[Dwight Brown]

1 hour ago, jacobsaunders said:

doesn’t seem to have papers (not mentioned anyway), or a label, is a bit small, has a replacement head, and it seems a soundpost crack in the back on a superficial look, but perhaps it’s your big chance

354mm seems pretty middle of the road size wise. John Dilworth wrote a short article about it. It’s not a certificate but I’m inclined to respect his opinion. I’m going to have to get real lucky to get to bid on it. Probably should go to a museum.

DLB

 

 

 

[Dwight Brown]

https://ingleshayday.com/features/andrea-amati-chronicles-of-a-rediscovered-treasure/
 

DLB

[jacobsaunders]

57 minutes ago, Dwight Brown said:

https://ingleshayday.com/features/andrea-amati-chronicles-of-a-rediscovered-treasure/
 

DLB

Thanks for your link, Since John finds it analogous with Marco Polo, Leonado da Vinci and Shakespeare, it does seem good value for money. That puts Martin Swan advertising copy to shame

[martin swan]

1 hour ago, jacobsaunders said:

Thanks for your link, Since John finds it analogous with Marco Polo, Leonado da Vinci and Shakespeare, it does seem good value for money. That puts Martin Swan advertising copy to shame

Damn I'm going to have to up my game 

[Dwight Brown]

2 hours ago, jacobsaunders said:

Thanks for your link, Since John finds it analogous with Marco Polo, Leonado da Vinci and Shakespeare, it does seem good value for money. That puts Martin Swan advertising copy to shame

He makes a good viola too!

DLB

[Violadamore]

4 hours ago, Dwight Brown said:

https://ingleshayday.com/features/andrea-amati-chronicles-of-a-rediscovered-treasure/
 

DLB

 

3 hours ago, jacobsaunders said:

Thanks for your link, Since John finds it analogous with Marco Polo, Leonado da Vinci and Shakespeare, it does seem good value for money. That puts Martin Swan advertising copy to shame

 

2 hours ago, martin swan said:

Damn I'm going to have to up my game 

Yup.  He's writing prose almost worthy of @pahdah_hound 

[Bowjob]

Normally, I would be a sucker for such a rare item - so I went to see and play it.

The condition is not great: The top has something of a Swiss cheese and the back a full-body patch. There is also some wood worm and the head is not original - that might explain the estimate.

The sound was good, but did not blow my socks off (unlike, e.g., the Balestrieri) - but who cares about that ;-)

The value is hard to tell I guess, as these only come to the market every quarter century or so. When I sold something similarly rare at Sotheby's some years ago, the final price exceeded the estimate by the factor 5 - we will see!

[Dwight Brown]

1 hour ago, Bowjob said:

Normally, I would be a sucker for such a rare item - so I went to see and play it.

The condition is not great: The top has something of a Swiss cheese and the back a full-body patch. There is also some wood worm and the head is not original - that might explain the estimate.

The sound was good, but did not blow my socks off (unlike, e.g., the Balestrieri) - but who cares about that ;-)

The value is hard to tell I guess, as these only come to the market every quarter century or so. When I sold something similarly rare at Sotheby's some years ago, the final price exceeded the estimate by the factor 5 - we will see!

It's about as old as a violin could be.  I have spoken with a relative of the late owner and I gather it was all in pieces in a box until recently.  I'm not sure I am right about that but that is how I understood them.

DLB

[Shelbow]

I like a good jigsaw puzzle.

[Urban Luthier]

On 5/12/2023 at 12:55 PM, jacobsaunders said:

...is a bit small...

If the Andrea Amati Opera Omnia catalog can be believed, AA made violins in two sizes - Small and Smaller

[Dwight Brown]

This one is a pretty normal size 354 mm. Not that small right in the middle of “normal”. 350-359mm

[Bill Merkel]

On 5/15/2023 at 12:42 PM, Bowjob said:

The sound was good, but did not blow my socks off (unlike, e.g., the Balestrieri)

There are two, 121 and 206.  121 is less than half the estimate of the other but it's the one I'd want.

On 5/15/2023 at 12:42 PM, Bowjob said:

but who cares about that ;-)

Not me

 

Edit:  I just noticed 121 is "circle of".  I still like it better than the one that's supposed to be all square.

[Dwight Brown]

I’m pretty sure I could go to the bank and have them participate in my bad decision but I will adult for the moment.

DLB

[gowan]

I think I agree with DB that it should be in a museum.  I guess it is playable but the condition is pretty dodgy, and how much are you going to pay to keep it playable?