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: 5/12/2008 Subject: violin
Question Hi,
We have a violin labeled Joseph Guarnerius fecit [ cross ] IHS cremonas anno 1743 " Germany" Great shape w/ 2 bows.
Can you tell right off the bat if it's fake?
Answer Hello Tamara,
You and I might hold different definitions about the term "fake". I would not dispute that it is most likely a genuine German copy of a Guarneri-model violin (therefore not a "fake" German instrument) on the other hand, it is most certainly not an original Joseph Guarneri from Cremona in 1743 as the county of "Germany" as we know it today, did not exist at that time. Most of these violins are decent student instruments suitable for middle-school and highschool use. They do happen to be most of a hundred years old at this point although that's not very unusual in the violin world...
