(SN:138 – A$990) 3/4 Sized Stradivarius
Labelled Stradivarius copy, French or German made, 1930’s. The inside label on this nice looking instrument reads: “Antonius Stadiuarius Cremonensis” “Faciebat Anno 1716.” This is a well made 3/4 violin measuring 22″ in length and 7 1/2″ width in the lower bout. The top is a good quality, close grain spruce and the back is a bookmatched two piece wide curl. The appointments are box wood for the pegs, tailpiece and chinrest.
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Does the label; “Antonius Stadiuarius Cremonensis” “Faciebat Anno 1716.” Identify the instrument as being manufactured after 1900? Are any of these labels considered to have reliable dates? I have an old[er] violin with a similar label; “Antonius Stadiavrius Cremonensis” “Faciebat Anno 1745″. Are most violins w/label suspect of being manufactured in the 20th century -are there exceptions for violins originating from Saxony?
Hi, the Stradivarius label is the most copied label of all violin makers. This started even during the time that Stradivari was alive 1644 to 1737 AD. People who couldn’t afford to buy an original Stradivari violin simply asked another maker for a copy of a Stradivari. Demand for Stradivari violins was quite high from the beginning so Stradivari ran a workshop with apprentices doing most of the work to keep up with the demand for his violins. Interestingly, there are no more than 512 original Stradivari violins that survive today but there are countless numbers of copies of his violins which bear a label with his name. Some of these violins will say on their label that they are a “Copy of” a Stradivarius. Some like yours will have a date which is after his death. Some will have a date which is the actual modern date of manufacture. Some will have the name of the actual maker on the label. You mentioned Saxony in your question: it is likely that your violin was an import to the U.S.A. where it was required that the origin of the violin be included on the label. These violins were imported from what is today called the Musikwinkel (Music District), in the Voigtland area of Saxony. This centres around Markneukirchen and includes Klingenthal, Schönbach and Graslitz. Markneukirchen and Klingenthal are today part of Germany, and Schönbach and Graslitz are over the border into today’s Czech Republic which used to be called Western Bohemia.
Thanks for replying and including some more background on violins produced from this region. The main question I have concerning the violin is could it have been produced in this area in 1745. It certainly appears that the region around Saxony was actively producing instruments at that time. The date after Stradivarius death seems to indicate more of a violin crafted in the style of A. Stradivarius, i.e., a facsimile. Choice of wood, tool markings and finish might provide other clues. I suppose the label itself could be examined by an expert to determine if it was actually made in the 18th century.