Italian Violin 1780 (certified plus dendro report plus sound clip)
Guidantus, his instruments are comparatively rare, but are well-made and varnished with a clear, hard yellow or golden-brown, similar to that of Guidantus. He is best known for his treatise on violin making published in 1786, one of the earliest first-hand texts on the subject. The violin is in a fine state of preservation. When I bought it, the instrument needed only a good cleaning, new fingerboard, and some minor repairs and adjustments. You can get the fine details of the condition if you call my luthier.
If you want a copy of the dendro report and the sound file, send me an inquiry and I'll send you both. The dates are 1757 and 1758 treble and bass sides respectively. The violin was likely made around 1780. The varnish is in very good condition and the color is golden brown as opposed to the dark brown color when first found.
You can easily see this from the photos. If you need more photos, I can send you a link to download photos from. The LOB (length of back) is 350 mm. Please feel free to contact James Banicki Violins (Essex Vermont) for details on condition. He can give you specifics on the mensure and stop length as well.
He has the violin with him. If you want to talk to the violinist who has played on this instrument, that can be arranged.
She told my luthier, who made the sound file, that the violin is easy to play and is very responsive. I've included in photo 11 the 2021 price range for this maker's violins.
I didn't make up the price out of thin air. You can see the price range for this maker as given by Dimitry Gindin for 2021 based on the condition of the instrument. The finer the condition, the higher the price. It all depends what's on offer. The sound quality on this instrument is similar to an early Strad, in my opinion, but of course it does not project like a Strad!
But then it's not a five-million-dollar plus violin is it! The timbre is rich, sweet, velvety smooth, with some grit at the bottom-a nice tonal quality found in some 18th century Italian violins like the Gaglianos. Keep in mind that this violin is patterned after an Alessandro Gagliano model. Collectors don't need a ten day trial.
If you have other ideas on how you want to transact, then please let me know. For those abroad, I do have a 15 minute sound clip and you can talk to the violinist who played the violin for a month. This violin would be an excellent choice for an orchestral player, chamber violinist, or a Julliard or Curtis student. If I don't sell the violin before the end of the year, I may be putting it up on consignment in NYC. Currently on consignment with Florian Leonhard Fine Violins in London.
If you want to see the dendro report, I can send that to you. This item is in the category "Musical Instruments & Gear\String\Orchestral\Violins".fineviolins" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Size: 4/4
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Italy
- Instrument: Violin
- Experience Level: Advanced, Expert
- Number of Strings: 4
- Type: 18th century Italian
- Brand: Italian