WHAT ARE THEY WORTH?

Evening Star, Issue 21233, 14 October 1932, Page 8

WHAT ARE THEY WORTH?

VIOLINS BRANDED "STRADIVARIUS" MR JOSEF SZJGETCS COUNSEL SOUGHT Musical celebrities are invariably, deluged with interviews from autograph hunters at the close of a recital, and in the case of violinists there are not many who pass through a city without being sought after to inspect the ancient instruments of people who believe their possessions to be valuable. Occasionally a genuine article is found, but the majority of violins submitted for scrutiny are—only fiddles. “Oh, yes; they both have the inevitable Stradivarius coupon, , which is printed by the thousand,” said Mr Josef Szigeti, in charming English, with a quaint Hungarian accent, when he was looking over a couple of violins taken to him last evening. The hopes that the owners had entertained up till this time that their violins might be worth a fortune, foil, but Mr Szigeti’s captivating manner held their attention till he explained a little about the fine points of the instrument. , He very carefully examined the two instruments, critically viewing the scroll or head, and the sound vents in the belly of the violins. It was in these places that a good maker left his mark, he remarked, and comparing the violins, he pointed out to those present in his room the finish of one, which, its owner said, was well over eighty years of age to his knowledge. It had been purchased from a pawnshop in Glasgow, by his father and handed on to him. The timber used in its construction was much finer than that of the other violin, and he would not be certain if it were a German, French, or English instrument. “ Let us hope iff is English ;it will be of more value, he said with a smile. “ For certain it is not ah Italian product.” In each violin similar coupons, bearing the name Stradivarius, were to ba seen, and they were dated 1721 and 1736. Asked if the dates were any indication of the age of the instruments, Air Szigeti shook his head, and explained that it was difficult to tell when' they were made, for they were not labelled as carefully as the works of the master craftsmen. After handing the violins back th their respective owners, he turned to his own case, and displayed the violin which he had played that evening.