Antonio Stradivari violin 1724

Antonio Stradivari Violin 1724

Now I know what your thinking,Glenn this is a copy.

Exactly what I would have said. When I purchased this violin over 30 years ago I didn't even know who Antonio Stradivan was. I was in Bradenton Florida looking for a home for sale to relocate from Fort Lauderdale, when I came across a large estate sell of a very old home that was on the waterway. I love estate sales and have been a collector for years. It was mid day and I'm sure most dealers have already rummaged through it. The owner move most of the stuff for sale into his tripple car garage. As I was going through the clutter to see what was of value I was moving boxes from under a bench that was attached to the wall. When I move the box it got stuck on the wall panel.and the panel pulled open and there was a violin case. I pulled the violin case out and brang to the owner and asked what he wanted for it. The owner replied where did you get that I don't own a violin. I told him it was behind a panel in the wall. The owner said he had lived in his house for over 20 yrs and didn't know it was there.I offered him $50.00 and he was happy to get the money for something he didn't know he had.  

Now with no internet 30 yrs ago I had to find someone that would know about violins. I found a violin maker in hollywood Florida near my home. When I arived at his shop and told him I wanded his opinion  on a Stradivari I found, his comment was don't bother taking out of the case because they have all been found and accounted for. He told me every year a famous concert violinist comes in town he only let him service his Stradivari so he had good knowledge of the instrument. He then agreed to look at it. As he held the violin his reaction was it can't be it just can't be. I guess he was impressed by the craftsmanship of the wood on the outside. Then he mentioned that Antoino did some kind of band on the inside that no copy would have. But when he looked that was there as well. To make a long story short he then sent me to a concert vilionist that was in town for the week that had experance with Stradivari.

They both came up with the same conclusion that it appeared to be real inside and out. But was not of concert quality and never would be. They said it was probably one that was given to a friend or familly or to someone that worked for Antonio for barder. They told me to send it to New York for a appraisel. And there it sat till now in my closet for you experts to comment on.