1921 Fred Nebel Violin
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APPRAISER:
I understand you grew up playing the violin. Is that correct?
GUEST:
Yes, I did.
APPRAISER:
And that you acquired this instrument when?
GUEST:
In 1984.
APPRAISER:
Was this your first full-sized violin?
GUEST:
Actually, it was my second one. I traded in my first one when I was a little girl. My mom actually bought this one for me with my violin teacher in Venice, Florida, at a music store. I know it's from the 1920s.
APPRAISER:
Mm-hmm.
GUEST:
And I've tried looking up the name on the internet. I've tried looking at books, and I just haven't been able to find any information on this violin.
APPRAISER:
You must have been a pretty serious player.
GUEST:
In my younger days, yes. It's been sitting around in a closet for the past few years.
APPRAISER:
Do you have any idea what your mother paid for it?
GUEST:
Maybe about $500.
APPRAISER:
Well, it's a lovely instrument. The label is absolutely perfect, beautiful label. It says "M. Nebel and Bro. "fecit, New York, 1921," and then in little tiny writing, it says "Sept. 15," and then there's a family crest in there. So, it's about as complete a label as we ever can find in this business.
GUEST:
Wow.
APPRAISER:
M. Nebel was Martin Nebel. He was from a violin-making family in Mittenwald, Germany. On the left-hand lower corner of the label, it says "F, period, N, period," handwritten in ink. You can see on the back that the wood is absolutely gorgeous. The back of the violin is made out of maple, and the belly, as the tradition, is spruce. The ribs, the neck, and the scrolled pegbox are also maple that matches the back. And it's wood that's indigenous American wood, and his carving is of the highest quality. The thing that I think is really important about this instrument is that it represents the transfer of a tradition from Europe to America, the finest, finest training coming to America to serve the, the young orchestras of the United States and the players. And yet he did things that were kind of unusual. The purfling is what surrounds the instrument, and you can see it comes into these corners and swoops right out. Well, there's no traditional maker that would really do this. It's very American thing to do. This instrument, it's had some repairs, and I understand that your teacher did those repairs for you. They're not done in a particularly beautiful fashion, but I'm sure they've held all these years.
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
I understand that you acquired the bow separate.
GUEST:
Yes, I got the bow a few years after I got the violin. My mom bought it for me for Christmas.
APPRAISER:
Mm-hmm.
GUEST:
And the bow, she paid, I think it was about $200, $250.
APPRAISER:
And that, it's not worth much more than that right now. Well, this instrument, as is, in a retail market today, would probably be worth $6,000.
GUEST:
Oh, my gosh.
APPRAISER:
And if those repairs hadn't been made, it would probably be more like $7,000 or $7,500.
GUEST:
Oh, my goodness.
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