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: 4/15/2008 Subject: 1805 violin
Question My violin is without question very old. With the help of a magnifying glass I can read some of the faded hand-written paper label--"Jaques LaPlante, Montreal, Canada, April 7, 1805" There are a few French words, possibly "jais ait", "dr", and "repare~"
The back of the violin is bowed--not flat, and made of a beautiful striped wood. The varnish there is lovely. The front of the instrument shows the years of rosin collection and would benefit from being cleaned. A violinist from a Slavic country showed me where a crack had been repaired, but assured me it was repaired well. Another musician friend prefers the sound of this instrument to her own German made violin, and has borrowed it from me at times.
I purchased this violin many years ago from a lady who was not a musician, but whose parents had been musicians and I think had owned a "music store". I would appreciate any information you can give me regarding the maker of this violin.
Answer Hi Carol,
Sorry it took me a couple of days to research this one. As far as I can tell, the label you refer to is a repair label put in by Monsieur LaPlante whose life as a violin maker or restorer goes unrecorded in the major reference works like William Henly's Universal Dictionary of Violin and Bow Makers. While it is no longer fashionable for restorers to insert their labels into instruments they have worked on, the practice was fairly widespread in the 1800's and early 1900's thus providing us clues to the age of instruments and the circumstances of their possible origin. In order to help you further, I would need to see photos of the instrument (front, back, and side-of-scroll). you are welcome to e-mail them to me directly at my store: dalton@pottersviolins.com
All the Best!
Dalton Potter
Good Morning Carol,
I had a chance to review the photos you took of your violin and have come to the following conclusions: the instrument pictured is of a commercial grade, of European (probably Czech or German) origin, with a spirit varnish over a hand-applied, antiqued pigment. The arching and purfling channels are nicely done but indicate a mass-produced instrument intended for student use. The probable manufacture date would be circa 1890 - 1900. I'm sorry for the confusion created by the fictitious repair label.
