Strad copy - Blonde
This is another very nice German made violin that was probably manufactured in a cottage industry at the turn of the century. The wood grain is extraordinarily pretty on this violin. The wood and the design of the violin are what dates it and identifies where it was made.
It has many new parts including the bridge, sound post, tuning pegs, chin rest, tail piece and end piece. There were cracks that have been properly repaired . Some work was done on this violin before we took it to Geza Burghardt and there was one thing that he could not repair. The edge on the table was sanded off and it is flat.
In his appraisal, Geza recognized that this could have been a great violin. The past workmanship has lowered this evaluation. However, the violin is still beautiful. The wood grain of the maple is clear and bold. When you compare it to the Berini and the German blond you can see the difference in the presence of this violin. Equal in importance, the violin has a "very nice" sound. It has a tone and resonance that is superior to the other two blond violins.
Inside of the violin is stamped "Antonius Stradivarius Cremonenfis" "Faciebat Anno 17 " There is a design that looks something like a weigh scales inside of a circle just below and to the right of that. There is no date after the "17"and I believe it would be meaningless if there was.
Engraved on the back of the scroll is “ARTIST VIOLIN STRADIVARIUS” . This also gives us no clue to the violin’s origin.
Sold to a hobby violinist from the interior of British Columbia.
