About Michael Avagliano Expertise I can answer questions about the violin family of instruments, including violins, violas, cellos and their bows. I can give advice on repair issues, valuation, and authenticity, although exact appraisals are not possible through the Web. If you'd like an appraisal of a particular instrument, and you tell me your location, I can usually find someone in your area to take it to for help. I have no expertise in fretted instruments (guitars, mandolins, etc.).
Experience 17 years of experience working in violin shops across the US, including 4 years of owning my own firm in New Jersey and 3 years working as director of sales for one of the best-known firms in the world. Also, as a professional musician, I've known the violin all my life.
Education/Credentials BM, Indiana University School of Music; AS, String Instrument Technology, Indiana University; MM, Rutgers University. I also have spent 24 years as a professional violinist and violist, and 17 years repairing, restoring, and dealing in instruments.
I recently purchased an old violin for a very small sum. It has no internal label and is stamped with the word 'strauss' on the back, just below the neck.
Whilst I do not believe this violin to be worth vast sums of money, I am intrigued as I cannot find any information regarding the stamp on the internet.
The violin itself plays very nicely indeed but it would be great if you could provide a little more information.
Thank you in advance
Katie.
Answer Hello Katie,
Well, from the information you've given, it's very difficult to tell you anything concrete about your instrument. However, I can give you some educated guesses.
The "Strauss" stamp probably marks the instrument as being from Mittenwald. That's a best guess, based on finding a Strauss stamp in an old Lyon & Healy catalogue. Thousands of instruments came out of Mittenwald, destined for shops in the US and the UK. The quality of construction varied widely, from beautifully made master instruments to the lowest of the low. From the description in the catalogue, this line was somewhere in the middle. It would probably date from right around the turn of the century, circa 1910.
That's about all the help I can give you. I'm glad the instrument sounds well, and enjoy it!
