German Violin, ca. 1820
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GUEST:
I purchased it probably 30, 35 years ago at a, an auction sale. And I waited till the last day, when they had various things that they couldn't sell.
APPRAISER:
Mm-hmm.
GUEST:
And that's when I purchased it. Roughly $300 or $400.
APPRAISER:
$300 or $400.
GUEST:
I'm pretty frugal, so...
APPRAISER:
(laughs) So, why did you purchase it? Do you play violin?
GUEST:
No, I don't play the violin, but for some reason it just caught my eye, and I said, "I'd like to have it," and...
APPRAISER:
And how long ago was that?
GUEST:
That was probably about 30, 35 years ago. It's been sitting in... in, in-- either in the garage or in a closet.
APPRAISER:
On the inside, it does have a label in it, but probably in this instrument, it never had a label. And sometimes people will put a label in there of approximately the age and whatever they think it is. It's just common practice. It's easier to sell a violin that has a name than one that's just kind of an unknown instrument. But it's a reproduction label. I believe the label says "1745," or...
GUEST:
Somewhere around there, yes.
APPRAISER:
Somewhere around there. I think this is closer to the early 1800s. But it is a German violin. Most likely, it was made in Mittenwald, Germany. It's, it has some very typical features of the German violins. One is that the color of the varnish and the transparency is just very typical of the instruments of that time period. Do you have any idea today what the value of this instrument might be?
GUEST:
I have absolutely no idea. I, I... I, I assume it's worth more than I paid for it. But I have no idea.
APPRAIER: Right. Yes.
GUEST:
Absolutely none, none whatsoever.
APPRAISER:
Well, the instrument's in good condition. It has some little scratches, and that's easily repaired. Just a nice German instrument from this time period in good condition, today would have a retail value between $12,000 and $15,000.
GUEST:
Wow-- that's, that's a pretty good investment. That's very surprising-- I had no idea.
APPRAISER:
Does anybody in the family play violin, or any of the grandchildren?
GUEST:
No, no, they don't. I have a grandson who plays the piano.
Appraisal Details
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