You've brought your
violin in, and we've told you it's not a real Strad. So why does the label say it is?
Below are three reasons
you might find an instrument bearing a popular maker's name....
1. Years ago, violin
makers always labeled their instruments in a way that indicated which style pattern they had used. So the violin
might have a label saying Stradivarius, Amati, Guarnerius, or Ruggeri. this was not done for deception; it was an
understood practice among luthiers and musicians. The instrument was often duplicated right down to scratches and
wear in the instrument's finish.
2. In the late 1800s in
Germany, a glut of student level violins entered the market, often with an authentic looking Stradivarius label.
These instruments were offered for sale in the United States via mail order catalogs. Using the Stradivarius name
was probably a great marketing tool, because everyone had heard of Stradivarius.
3. More recently,
underhanded dealers have placed false or fake labels in violins. It's an easy way to entice the customer to pay
more for an instrument. The old label can be soaked out with water or alcohol, and a new label placed inside. This
is one reason we advise getting up professional appraisal before putting a lot of money into an
instrument.