About L. Dalton Potter Expertise I have been involved in the violin trade for over 28 years. I am currently the President of The Potter Violin Company in Bethesda, MD. I can offer clients initial advice on the value, authenticity and quality of almost all bowed string instruments (violins, violas, cellos & basses) using good quality digital photos. I would decline to give final evaluations without examining instruments in person.
Experience Experience in Music Business: Charlie Byrd's Music House; 1977 - 1980
Senior violin technician: Violin House of Weaver; 1980 - 1996.
President: The Potter Violin Company; 1996 - Present
Organizations: Founding member;String Industry Council, Violin Society of America, American String Teachers Association, Guild of American Luthiers,
Suzuki Association of America, Publications; Journal of the American String Teacher's Association, American Suzuki Journal Education/Credentials;Berklee College of Music 1974 - 1977
Awards and Honors: Chester J. Patranek Award for Excellence in the Music Industry
Traugott Rohner Leadership in the Music Industry Award
(26 years of service - too many to list)
Expert: L. Dalton Potter Date: 4/23/2008 Subject: 1722
Question I believe I have an original 1722 Antonio Stradivarius. Could you tell me more about it and the worth.
Answer Before you get all excited, you should know that many of the labels in old violins are what is euphemistically termed "facsimile" labels, meaning they may or may not have anything to do with a real person making violins; even though it may be a really nice instrument. However, it is quite true that there are a HUGE number of violins copied after the great Masters like Stradivari, Amati. Guarneri, etc., all of which have labels attributing their lofty origins (remember the paper has been around since the time of the Egyptians). Please understand that many of these instruments WERE in fact, made by hand and that they were made a long time ago (100-150 plus years). That does not make them very unusual because there were so many of them made from 1850 to 1920, mostly in Germany and France. The parts of the instrument that allow experts to tell the difference are the varnish; the WAY the scroll, f-holes and purfling are carved; and something called "dendochronology", which is the study of the growth rings in a tree (no kidding!) there are records of the climate and how that climate affected the growth rings of trees during the recorded period which translates into the grain-lines in the wood of your instrument. Unfortunately, these are not things that I can teach you over the internet, but almost any good violin shop can help you determine the real age and condition of your violin. You are welcome to email me good, well-lit digital photos of your instrument, or tell me the major city to which you live nearest and I can recommend someone to look at it for you...
Hope this helps!
Dalton Potter
dalton@pottersviolins.com
