You might have an old instrument that’s collecting dust somewhere in your basement, but that doesn’t mean that it should be immediately written off as something worthless. Many violin appraisals have found copies to be worth several thousand dollars with a few reaching in excess of ten thousand dollars.

First of all, the labels on older instruments can be a bit misleading. The famous Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati, Stainer and other makers have been copied many times over so just because your violin has that label doesn’t automatically make it a keeper. This is backed up by the fact that most of the more famous ones have already been catalogued.

Of course, there have been some fakes that were actually very nice instruments in their own right. This is backed up by the fact that there were many fine luthiers at that time that crafted in their own impressive style but still labeled their instruments as one of the more popular makers. Check out the craftsmanship and tone of the instrument as it might actually be worth something.

If the label is in English and it clearly states where it was made, then it is probably a factory manufactured violin. If however the label is old and matches the rest of the instrument, then it could be potentially worth a lot of money. You will still have to have it appraised as no buyer would purchase it base solely on the label.

You might want to ask someone who is knowledgeable about violins for his opinion. You can start at your local orchestra and ask the first or second violinist for his opinion. This shouldn’t be misconstrued as conclusive, but it is a good start.

Whenever you hire the services of a professional appraiser, always go for a written proof. It will be more expensive, but at least you will have a record of your claim as well as the references regarding how he arrived at the value.

Consider having your instrument restored or repaired. This will preserve its value and make it look more attractive to potential buyers. If you look at your total potential income, then these violin appraisals will only be a fraction of the cost.

violin appraisals

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