Hollohaza porcelain violin by Hungarian artist Szász Endre

[zack14smithy]

I found this Hollohaza porcelain violin by the famous Hungarian artist Szász Endre a couple of months ago on eBay. It had a reserve on it, and the highest bid was around $400 but the reserve was not met.

Now it is back up for sale, but NO reserve, and now it is at $200:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220707134730&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

It will sell for sure, how high should I bid?

It seems that it is at least worth $400, since that was the last high bid in the first auction, do you think it is worth more than that?

[fancypants]

I'm really not into modern 'collectable' items like the one you posted , zack14smithy & by no means an expert in items like it ..... but .....

if the item for sale was the #1 original , hand-signed & painted by the artist , it might be worth $200 .... I'd be happy to be corrected , if I'm wrong !

If I was in your boots , I'd spend my $200 - $400 for an antique porcelain item that had an established history of value (since your question was one about 'worth' of an item) .

On the other hand , if this item really floats your boat , bid 'till you can't anymore !

[mariok54]

I'm with Fancypants ...It originally only attracted bids of c $323 despite it stating in the listing that there was only one other that he could find, on sale in Hungary and going for c $2500. If this is a rare piece, and I have to be honest and admit that I  know nothing about the company at all, then the collectors will probably have spotted it, especially on ebay (things can get easily overlooked in small provincial auction houses). As they didn't, then it is probably worth in the region of the last highest offer.... maybe.

If you check the original listing then you'll see that the current highest bidder (only bidder) was the highest bidder last time  Bidder 1***2 (correct as of now   ) ... so you have a good idea how much s/he is prepared to go.

Found this, but no price

http://www.adhok.co.uk/szasz.htm

Also this, but noy being able to speak Hungarian I can only guess that the price is 175,000 Hungarian florint, roughly $830

http://www.topapro.hu/aprohirdetesek/butor-ruha-regiseg/porcelan-keramia/aprohirdetes/elado-szasz-endre-aranyozott-p/780961757f606457.html


If you really like it, go for it.

[talesofthesevenseas]

One of the strings which runs from the tuning peg through a groove at the top of the neck and down the front of the violin, is out of the groove. (see pic below) If it were not a problem with the item, it seems strange that the seller wouldn't straighten it out before taking photos. I would ask about this before bidding.

[waywardangler]

I, like the others, have no particular knowledge of this maker/piece.  It seems nice but just because the seller puts "Super Rare" in the listing does not make it so.  I also like to look at the bid history of the top bidder and that looks OK.  If all he/bid on was this seller's items, I would smell a shill but that is not the case.  It also appears the top and only bidder is not a last minute sniper.

If you like it and the price is right to you, then go for it.

Tales posted as I was also.  Tales that pic makes it look like 2 strings are out of the grooves.  I agree and would ask before bidding.

[mariok54]

Never mind 'but noy being able to speak Hungarian'  I can't even type English!

[Oceans64]

My 2 cents about the pic Tales posted...  Looks like the Violin is strung incorrectly.  That second string should be going to the top key on the same side as the first not cross over like it does.  An interesting mistake but I assume this is not for play but just for show??

Hmmm  just did a relook and see it's not like a normal violin.  So maybe the pegs are out of order having their holes drilled at graduating distances so the string lay right?  

And HAHA Mario...  I thought you were just being smarter than the rest us using a word we didn't know 

[ironlord1963]

    The one thing I noted about this seller.  Is they seem to sale only Hot Wheels, Good feedback but I would question what they would really know about the value of a piece like this. 

[cogar]

Talking about "what will it go for on E-bay", did ya'll see this?

An American eBay customer couldn’t believe his luck when a battered old watch he listed with a reserve price of $9.95 actually sold for more than $66,000.

http://news.parcel2go.com/ParcelDeliveryNews/%E2%80%98james-bond-watch-ebay-sale-ticks-over-to-42000-800285619.aspx

[talesofthesevenseas]

Wow... "Love the watch James dahhhhling!"

[wendy177]

 Just an FYI  zack14smithy  also placed the same post on another antique forum on December 10th and previously on that forum September 17 of this year. also with no feed back to any forum members  posts, I suspect he/she is trying to sell the item.
 

[waywardangler]

I suspect you may be right, wendy.  The same dates he joined and posted here with no interaction between.  Probably trying to get forum members to look at the item and maybe gather some interest because the interest is not on eBay.  An astute observation, wendy.

[gingertomantiques]

if there was a profit in it we would all be after it, & were not bidding ?. Its difficult to sell as it is specialised & modern , the market is difficult at the moment.
You have to bid to buy it , if i like something for myself the price is immaterial or are you thinking of making a fast few bob because you wont, but you could get your money back. if your lucky