T2 Lot 301

[stern]

Interesting Lot 301 listed as A violin c. 1775-1780 estimate  $40,000-60,000. Certificate by Eric Blot violin stating a violin by Gragnani. Pretty high estimate for a T2 auction. Jason Price does not agree with Eric Blot that it is by Gragnani-otherwise he would have wrote a certificate stating so and it wouldn't be in a T2 auction. Thoughts on this one anyone?

[GeorgeH]

The condition report for this violin describes it simply as "Poor" which is likely why it is in T2. In general, instruments in the Fine Auctions are in good condition and playable.

https://t2-auctions.com/auctions/lot/?csid=2200715264&cpid=4305928192&filter_key=

[stern]

I think it has more to do with Tarisio not backing up Blot’s certificate 

[GeorgeH]

14 minutes ago, stern said:

I think it has more to do with Tarisio not backing up Blot’s certificate 

Authentic instruments will be placed in T2 when their condition is not good enough for the fine auctions, which is apparently the case here. Jason Price does not write Pro Forma certificates for items in T2. 

[martin swan]

3 hours ago, stern said:

I think it has more to do with Tarisio not backing up Blot’s certificate 

If they didn't think it was a Gragnani the estimate would be considerably lower

[stern]

There have been plenty of instruments in “poor” condition in Fine Instrument auctions in the last 25 years. If Tarisio thought the violin was by Gragnani then why not list it as such?

[martin swan]

1 hour ago, stern said:

There have been plenty of instruments in “poor” condition in Fine Instrument auctions in the last 25 years. If Tarisio thought the violin was by Gragnani then why not list it as such?

My speculation would be ...

1. It's not in good enough condition for a regular Tarisio sale or the owners don't want to wait that long

2. T2 doesn't list instruments as 'by' even when they are

[deans]

Stern, if you're really interested in this instrument go ahead and ask them. 

[ibrusz]

Without intending any disrespect to Mr Price, I think that Eric Blot is (in matters of Italian violin authentication) the more authoritative expert and scholar when compared to Jason Price. I am likewise inclined to believe that the issue ultimately has to do something with the instrument’s condition.

[Violin216]

On 4/3/2026 at 7:08 PM, martin swan said:

 

2. T2 doesn't list instruments as 'by' even when they are

This is it.

[Rob Sinclair]

On 4/5/2026 at 1:58 AM, ibrusz said:

Without intending any disrespect to Mr Price, I think that Eric Blot is (in matters of Italian violin authentication) the more authoritative expert and scholar when compared to Jason Price. I am likewise inclined to believe that the issue ultimately has to do something with the instrument’s condition.

-I wouldn't be so sure... with all the instruments that go through Tarisio, that's a hell of an opportunity to grow expertise. I wonder who writes more certificates per year these days? Plus, he's twenty years younger . 

-But to the original point, I don't think Tarisio or T2 is saying they disagree with the attribution. Seems like a perfectly okay Gragnani to me.

-I've bought plenty of authentic instruments from T2. Usually it's a quesrtion of condiiton.

[stern]

3 hours ago, Rob Sinclair said:

-I wouldn't be so sure... with all the instruments that go through Tarisio, that's a hell of an opportunity to grow expertise. I wonder who writes more certificates per year these days? Plus, he's twenty years younger. 

 

 

Exactly that's why I would go with Blot's expertise

[GeorgeH]

It does get tricky. Lot 287 is listed as:

A VIOLIN, c. 1886

Labeled, "John Friedrich fecit New York anno 1886."

It is clearly not a John Friedrich violin, but listing as "c. 1886" implies that the label is legitimate (it isn't). It is impossible to tell what year that violin was made. 

The price estimate of "$4,000 - $6,000" also suggests it is authentic. 

[Blank face]

16 hours ago, GeorgeH said:

It does get tricky. Lot 287 is listed as:

A VIOLIN, c. 1886

Labeled, "John Friedrich fecit New York anno 1886."

It is clearly not a John Friedrich violin, but listing as "c. 1886" implies that the label is legitimate (it isn't). It is impossible to tell what year that violin was made. 

The price estimate of "$4,000 - $6,000" also suggests it is authentic. 

A date witch "c(irca)" usually referss at that auction to the dating of a label only. Though this label doesn't look like a facsimile (fake) to me neither, at least at the given photo. Maybe it's just a shop label for a bought in trade violin?

[GeorgeH]

1 hour ago, Blank face said:

A date witch "c(irca)" usually referss at that auction to the dating of a label only. Though this label doesn't look like a facsimile (fake) to me neither, at least at the given photo. Maybe it's just a shop label for a bought in trade violin?

Tarisio will use "circa" to estimate a date even if that date has nothing to do with the date on the label. 

An authentic John Friedrich label of that vintage looks like the one attached below. He also numbered his violins. 

Regardless of the label, that violin is clearly a trade violin. It was not made by John Friedrich, who was a very fine maker.

The firm John Friedrich and Bro did sell imported violins but they had separate labels for the trade violins they sold.

[stern]

Do you think many of these T2  instruments and bows that are stamped or labeled with the names of other makers are

1. made as copies (Fagnola did this with Pressenda labels)  or 2. made to try and deceive people. Obviously many T2 items don't look anything like the maker of the label they bear and often times as stated above the labels or fire brands are incorrect for that maker

Tarisio advertises that these are trade instruments obviously not to be confused with the fine instrument auctions

Some 20 plus years ago I bought what was listed as a "Fine" violin with a Fagnola label in a Tarisio auction.  It was a very nice Fagnola Copy and sold as such. Back then Tarisio didn't examine instruments very well- better now. After I got it it I noticed it had the signature of Louis Caporale on the upper rib-Tarisio never noticed that. He made very nice Fagnola copies and lived in Japan- I met him with the instrument a year or two later. It was made as a copy although looked very authenticate in every way.

[Televet]

7 hours ago, stern said:

 

Tarisio advertises that these are trade instruments obviously not to be confused with the fine instrument auctions

 

No they don't

 

They advertise the auctions as for the violin trade. 

There is no mystery here.

[stern]

Correct. T2 is a separate division designed for the trade- not to be confused with the Fine Instrument auctions.

[deans]

One of the things T2 does that Amati and Chicago don't do is supply estimates on their trade auctions. Which, as noted by this very thread, leads to people wondering what they they are thinking. These estimates have to involve some level of professional jusgement.

[GeorgeH]

1 hour ago, deans said:

One of the things T2 does that Amati and Chicago don't do is supply estimates on their trade auctions. Which, as noted by this very thread, leads to people wondering what they they are thinking. These estimates have to involve some level of professional jusgement.

I don't think that they have Reserve Prices, either.  T2 auction lots can have reserve prices.

[fragslap]

On 4/9/2026 at 1:48 PM, GeorgeH said:

I don't think that they have Reserve Prices, either.  T2 auction lots can have reserve prices.

Yes, but isn't their "reserve" just just the low estimate?

[GeorgeH]

31 minutes ago, fragslap said:

Yes, but isn't their "reserve" just just the low estimate?

No, often it is well below the low estimate.