AboutAl Dzina Expertise I can answer questions about violin and guitar making and restoration. I will not answer questions about playing these instruments, because I am a maker, not a player.
Experience I was trained in violin making in Germany and have been working at this craft for sixty years.
Expert: Al Dzina Date: 4/24/2008 Subject: Andreas Guarnerius violin
Question Hello, I have my great grandfathers fiddle. The only label inside says, Andreas Guarnerius Fecit Cremonae and the second line is Sub titulo Sanctae Teresiae 1640
The 16 is stamped and the 40 is hand written on the label.
the lable does have a thin black line border on the botton that appears to be hand cut a little crooked. The violin is in rough shape, the bridge the nut, the end pin are gone. The tailpiece is in the black wooden case. I can send you pics if you like. The back, sides and neck appear to be flame maple The quesion is do I have a copy or the real thing and is it worth anything. Thank you in advance. Terry Bart tbart@wyom.net
Answer Hi Terry;
Pics will not help, I will need to have the violin in hand in order to make a real evaluation. A. Guarnerius B.1626-D.1698 Worked 1650-1694. The date 1640 seems to be 10 years before he started to make violins. Send me your City & State and I shall attempt to send you to a shop that can help.
Al;
