Let us say something about violin labels and their backround through our own knowledge and experience:
After having thousands of violins going through our workshop, we have to say, that a quite high percentage of labels in old violins are simply FAKE !
Mostly forged into the body by ruthless sellers with the intention to raise "value" on unexperienced buyers.
Sad - but true !
SEE EXAMPLES:
One doesn't have to be a violin expert to detect what is clearly visible:
The lower label has been glued on top of the upper label - just look at the black frame of the upper label !
The upper label stating a repair by Rudolf Marquardt dated 1918 - this label appears to be authentic and the German writing of "repaired = reparirt" is so far correct at this time:
It spells "reparirt" in antique German "Suetterlin" writing . Beginning 1920s this spelling in German language was revised into "repariert" - note the difference on the two labels!
So how can it be, that August Wunderlich glued his repair label on top of the other one nearly 100 years earlier, even using the more modern German writing "repariert" ???
This is obviously a very pore attempt of fraud by a German EBAY seller, regarding his supposedly professional qualified description, which he claimes as his own and copyright protected:
"Up for auction is a great sounding, old french violin with 3 inscriptions:
Joh.Bapt. Schweitzer fecit at forman Hieronym. Amati Pestini 1813
Rudolf Marquardt Geigenbauer Stettin. 1918 repariert,
Aug.Wunderlich, Markneukirchen, repariert 1822
The violin is restored in cooperation with a Master Luthier. A very nice copy of the old master. My master luthier told me that she has all the french- made characteristics of a violin, and most probably was built in Mirecourt...................... "
The statement, that this violin has been allegedly "restored in cooperation with a Master Luthier" is logically more than doubtful, since every master luthier would stand for his work by leaving at least a handwritten note (if not a repair label) in the violin.
Also - and even more significant:
The title "Master Luthier - Geigenbaumeister" includes a certain obrigation to the authenticy of repairs, labels or even the authenticy of the instrument itself. A contravention like this false labeling would be against all rules of the German Guild of violin makers - " Gilde deutscher Geigenbaumeister / Verband Deutscher Geigenbauer " !
Every "Master Luthier - Geigenbaumeister" would certainly remove false labels, because a false label is devaluating any violin.
This seller though doesn't even refer to the idendity of this alleged "Master Luthier", which surely would give a lot more credibility to his auctions - if it would be true !
Last but not least: These violins labeled "Joh.Bapt. Schweitzer fecit at forman Hieronym. Amati Pestini" - mostly dated 1813 or 1814 , were mass produced copies in Markneukirchen / Germany workshops around the turn of 19th / 20th century.
Still very good manufactured German quality instruments !
Beware of these kind of frauds !
In spite of being totally aware of these facts the seller still tries to sell this violin on ebay.de since years:
Please contact us for further information!
For further questions please feel free to ask !