Fiddle Me This.

August 17, 2012 10:19 AM

Any violin geeks out there?

Label reads

"Joseph Guarnerius fecit (then a Roman cross)
Cremonae anno 1736 IHS"

on the other side, near the sound post, a small sticker that says "553"

As far as I can tell, it is probably a Ernst Heinrich Roth copy, but I can't seem to date it. I'm hoping it is 20's or so, but does not have the cursive script on the label.

I guess there was a stage where he hand made them himself, then during the war his sons took over the shop and put out lower quality, mass produced models,

Depending on which make it is, it could be worth $80, or 8K.

I bow to your superior knowledge.

See what I did there, with the bow thing?

posted by timsteil to media & arts (3 answers total)

Find a repair person in your area and take it there. If you don't know anyone, call up a teacher at a local school or university.
posted by Madamina at 10:28 AM on August 17, 2012

Yeah, specifics about whether it's Roth or anyone else probably gotten from a violin professional of one kind or another. Of course, violin appraisals do cost money (since they potentially generate money), a lot sometimes (ditto).

For the date alone, try get hold of a dendrochronologist, I guess. Look on the museum and university websites for resources, shouldn't be all too difficult in a big city...
posted by Namlit at 11:51 AM on August 17, 2012

Contact a large university music library and get in touch with the music librarian. There are books and encyclopedias in print that catalog musical instruments by maker and identifying marks for age appraisal. If the library has that type of resource for stringed instruments, your reference question could be answered effectively and quickly for free.

Your other option is to find a luthier you trust or who is well reviewed as fair and reliable, but I highly recommend you try a couple music libraries first because it could save you a good amount of money.
posted by Luminiferous Ether at 7:29 PM on August 17, 2012