Books › The reminiscences of a fiddle dealer, 1925 › scan 68
Scan 68
The reminiscences of a fiddle dealer, 1925
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 44. See the scan on archive.org.
1The Fiddle Dealer
3instruments of all kinds but never one that bore the impress of the same hand.
5There were certain points of Gofriller's—a Venetian maker—about it, such as its small and neatly laid-in purfling—the flatness of the edges there being no rise either round or angular in them. This point alone shewed that it was neither the work of Strad. nor Guarnerius. The placing of the ff's was different from that of the Gofriller although very good, and the head was weak, but quite in keeping with the ff's. And its size and splendid archings were much superior to those of the Gofriller. Again the C or bouts resembled from their deep incision those of Carlo Bergonzi, only their roundness at top and bottom were quite different and more elegant than his. The varnish also was much superior both in colour and quality and although this was undoubtedly true of the Venetian school it did not assist me to solve the problem as to the identity of the maker.
7I was relieved to find that the gentleman in whose possession it was, shewed no signs of disappointment nor chagrin at my inability to name the maker; indeed he seemed to take that as a foregone conclusion. He said he had no intention of selling it as its tone was quite as fine as that of many Strad.'s and Guarnerius violins, and that if I wished to see it again at any time or had any friends whom I would like to see it, I was to call and he would be delighted to see me.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.