Antique Stratovarius Violin

[Booker_T]

Way back in 1909 my Great Grandfather aquired an old (playable) violin from only he knows where. Since he died back in 1988 it's kinda hard to find out. Anyway, back in the mid 1930's there was a fire at the train depot where my great grandfather lived and worked as the depot master. Luckily the fire department was able to snuff the fire before it destroyed the depot - however, the violin did get some water damage. He ended up taking the violin in to a violin repair shop to get the violin repaired. The guy who fixed the water damaged violin told my great grandfather that this violin is worth alot of money and if he should decide to sell it he could probably get somewhere in the neighborhood of a $1000 dollars for it. Back in the thirties this was ALOT of money! My father inherreted the violin when my great grandfather died. My grandfather left a note for my dad telling him that one day the violin will help him and his family in one way or another. The signature inside the violin says Antonius Stratovarius 1736. I'm not exactly possitive whether the date was 1736, but I'm pretty sure it was somewhere around that year. I've seen alot of Antonius Stratovarius violins out there but all of them say "COPY" somewhere inside. The violin is a half scale so it's smaller then most I've seen.  My dad recently had surgery on both of his shoulders and one elbow and hasn't been able to work for over a year now. He really doesn't want to sell the violin because of its sentimental value. But in reading my grandfathers note it seems that this might be the help that my grandfather intended the when wrote the note and gave my father the violin. If anyone has any information on how much the violin might be worth today or if anyone knows who to contact about finding out it's dollar value please let me know. Thanks in advance.

[here is a website that I found.]

These people might be able to give some information about what the violin is worth. I know that you must be hanging onto something special. I am however sorry that you must sell it under such circumstances. Hope that this helps.

http://www.cozio.com

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[Additional information]

Stradivari Violin Sets New World Auction Record in New York

NEW YORK CITY - At Christie's April 22 sale of fine musical instruments, a violin made by Antonio Stradivari in 1699, the year before his golden period, achieved $2,032,000, against a presale estimate of $800,000/1.2 million. This price is a world auction record for any musical instrument and largely surpassed the previous record, which was $1,776,940 realized for a Stradivari violin in 1990 at Christie's London.

Created in 1699 when Antonio Stradivari was 55 years old, The Lady Tennant violin illustrates the hallmarks of Stradivari's emerging Golden Period style. An exciting and significant prospect for discerning collectors and musical virtuosi across the world, the violin has a wonderfully rich provenance and bears the label "Antonius Stradiuarius Cremonensis / Faciebat Anno 1699."

On April 15, the violinist of the Eroica Trio, Adela Peņa, played The Lady Tennant at Christie's press conference, marking the first time the instrument was played in public in the United States.

Another highlight of the sale was a cello by Matteo Goffriller of Venice, circa 1707, which achieved a result of $620,800, against a presale estimate of $400/600,000, establishing a new world auction record for the maker.

The sale of fine musical instruments totaled $4,179,560. A complete review will appear in a future issue.

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