Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-09-09

ing the family only $500 for the instrument
News of the marvellous find spread about
the town, and the family came to be regarded
as potentially rich. They acquired new, ex-
pensive house furnishings and an automobie
on the security OF their Strad. Many liberal
offers for the violin were rejected, but, as it
turned out they waited too long. For one
evening friend brought a well known con-
cert violinist to the house, who told them
that their wonderful Strad was only cheap
German copy not even worth the cost of re-
pairing.
Injuries Do Not Improve Violins
'"There is also widespread superstition
to the effect that violi is often improved
by being injured and having its injury re-
paired" explained the violin expert. Moth
ing could be more absurd, of course, but it is
easy to see how the idea must have original
ed. People who have had their violins
cracked take them to an expert to be re-
paired. In mending the crack, he often dis
covers several other defects as well ana also
corrects them. AS result, the instrument
But it is not the damage which improves the
violin; it is the repairing-the substitution of
new parts for old, or the altering of the size
and thickness of certain parts
''Not only is violin not improved by in
juries, but the value eof Cremona violin is
greatly enhanced if it is in good condition.
The condition of the varnish is especially
where an ignorant violin repairer ruined a
genuine Guarnerius violin by scraping off all
the original varnish and applying thick coat
of the modern variety.
1t is remarkable how well preserved are
some of the old violins in the possession Of
collectors. One made by Gaspard da Salo
and gorgeously ornamented, SO it is said, by
the great Benvenuto Cellini himeslf, is today
in almost as perfect condition as when it left
the makers hands. 1t was once owned by
the distinguished Swedish artist, Ole Bull,
who had a large collection of violins, and at
this death in this country it passed into he
possession Of wealthy amateur. AS Gas
pard da Salo is credited by most authorities
with being the inventor of the first violin
some time about 1880 this is probably the
most aged instrument in existence. Ne sdiess
to say, it is worth fortune, although its
chief value is as a curiosity and not for the
quality Of it's tone.
The majority Of the Stradivarius vioins IN
existence, however, have practical as well
as an aesthetic value, standing the strain OF
constant use by some Of the world most
celebrated violinists The cheapest undam-
aged strad is valued, at $1,000, while even
the cheapest damaged instrument tn ned out
by the greatest violin maker who ever lived
is worth $1,000. genuine Strad in excel
lent condition recently imported from Europe
to this country was valued at $4,000
The average commercial violin of modern
make, on the other hand, sells for $50. The
reason for this difference in price is not the
mere matter of age but of workmanship. I'M
spite of occasional alleged proofs to the con-
trary, it is impossible for modern makers to
equal the superb craftsmanship Of the Gre
mona school of the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries, whose instruments, are eagerly
sought by connoisseurs on account Of their
richness of tone, which experts attribute
largely to the flexibility Of the wood used in
their construction.
That u.s. some Of the experts do. Others
contend that the supremacy Of the old TALL
ian violins rests chiefly on the varnsh, theI
secret formula for which remains one o. thel
great medieval mysteries, like the unknownI
pigment which was used in the stained glass
windows of the early cathedrals. 4 /