The headlines have been sensational: “Dealers Gain Collectors Trust, Score Multi-million Dollar Bonanza”… “London, Chicago Experts Finagle Holy Grail Cache of Violins”… “How Nazis Targeted the World’s Finest Violins”… “Trail of Treasures is Lost in Secret Rare Instrument Trade”… “Survivors’ Claims Go Unheard”… “Historic Violin Tug-of-War”… A relentless campaign attempting to expose the underbelly of […]
Understanding Appraisal Bafflegab
WinterThe Segelman lawsuit, covered elsewhere on this site, is just one of a few scandals in recent times which have been particularly murky due to problems of widespread ignorance among non-professionals in their interaction with the string instrument trade. Likewise, ignorance on the part of those who have been reporting on the scandals in the […]
Dendochronology and the Messiah Stradivarius An Interview with Henri D. Grissino-Mayer
FallAt the recently concluded 2001 meeting of the Violin Society of America, Professor Henri D. Grissino-Mayer presented the results of his dendrochronological analysis of the Messiah Strad. For those who could not attend he has kindly given us this summation of his science and his findings. Professor Grissino-Mayer introduces himself: I’m an Assistant Professor in […]
Sleepers Awake!
FallThe novice seller could easily imagine that the public auction provides the fairest access to the market. But a London Times article of October 16, 2001 exposes a reality well known within the string instrument business: auctioneers aren’t necessarily possessed of the best expertise in the trade. Nor is it always in the auctioneers interest […]
Ten Keys to Identifying a Violin
FallHow to identify violins? The short answer of course is to find a qualified expert, and they are rare, who will give you their own best information. There is no shortcut to genuine expertise in the fine string instrument world. Anyone seeking quick answers and simple solutions in the field needs a reality check. This […]