Books › Fiddle frauds and how to detect them, 1894 › scan 10
Scan 10
Fiddle frauds and how to detect them, 1894
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1works of the Straduari, Guarneri, Amati, Bergonzi, Ruggeri, etc., which continue to excite our greatest admiration, bearing testimony to their exertions to reach the highest pinnacle of perfection, and attracting in their time, and to this day, the attention of all true music-lovers, the palm being conceded, with perfect justice, to the great master, Antony Straduarius.
3Owing to the general desire on the part of amateurs to acquire an instrument made by one or other of the above galaxy of great makers, it was but natural that the prices of these violins should soon become prohibitive for most purchasers. It even became impossible for renowned artists to procure them, as the most valuable and best-made specimens were bought up at speculative prices by collectors, in whose possession they were kept, and, to a great extent, still remain; the choicest and most valuable ones being in English hands.
5After all, there were only six or eight among the old masters who acquired great renown; and if we consider that Straduarius, despite his reaching the ripe old age of ninety-three years, produced in the course of his whole life—including violins, violas, violoncellos, and basses—less than one thousand instruments, it will be easily seen that the demand for these master-pieces soon outstripped the supply. There were many excellent makers in those classical days who remained unnoticed, which arose in this wise:
7The best of violins requires first to be played upon for many months regularly and artistically before it acquires its proper sonorous tone. And when it is remembered that the products of the maker had to be introduced to the public by a good artist, in order to be appreciated and earn for him a name, we shall see the difficulties that stood in the way of many good makers achieving name and fame. The great
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