Old and Second Hand Violins


FULL SIZE VIOLINS

    
 
  1. violin 352 An interesting English violin by Ernest Torr, labelled 'Ernest Torr, Liverpool 1924'. Lightly flamed two piece back, low to medium arching, orange varnish. A very strong, bold design. Excellent physical condition but the varnish is soft and still takes marks, and has crackled. Strong clear sound, resonant, bright verging on harsh, with little warmth on the lower strings. Plenty of volume if you work at it. Pirastro Obligato strings. A respectable violin by a British maker listed in all the dictionaries.

    2. No. 352 in my book. £700. To view the fiddle Click here







  2. Click violin 573 Labelled 'Antonius Straduarius Cremona faciebat anno 1712', probably early 20th century, made in Germany. Moderately flamed two-piece back, medium to high arching on a broadly Stradivarius outline, golden brown varnish, lightly antiqued. Reasonable condition apart from an ugly repaired crack on the treble side of the belly (which was worse before I re-did it), and an ugly scratch low down on the bass side of the belly. Both of these are clearly visible on the photograph. The sound is strong, clear and responsive, rather brighter than many German violins but lacking a little warmth on the lower strings.

    3. No. 573 in my book £RESERVED.
     









  3. violin CURRENTLY ON HOLD PENDING VARNISH REPAIRS

    Labelled 'Antonius Straduarius Cremona faciebat anno 1729', probably early 20th century, made in Germany. Moderately flamed two-piece back, medium arching on a broadly Stradivarius model, rather cloudy red-brown varnish which I think is not original. Reasonable condition, a couple of repaired cracks low down on the belly. The sound is strong, clear and responsive but rather one-dimensional with the fitted strings (Dogal Blue Label I think). As I am selling this on behalf of a customer I have not experimented with other strings. Please also note that this violin is sold 'as seen', without my normal guarantees. The general workmanship and lack of upper corner blocks suggest that the violin is German. The varnish is very soft, (still takes fingerprints) and is typical of English varnish of the early 20th century. It may well have been refinished at the same time as the repairs were done.

    4. No number, please quote commission 16. £450.
     



  4. violin 501 Labelled 'Anselmus Belliosus fecit Venitiis 1785' but certainly not by this maker. The violin appears to be composite, with the belly possibly early 19th century English, recut to fit the back and ribs which are probably German and later, the neck and scroll possibly later still. Two piece back with faint narrow flame, lowish arching, orange-brown varnish. There is a repaired crack in the belly, lower treble side. The belly originally had drawn in purfling, now mostly erased, and the back has had the purfling removed! 'AB' has been crudely branded below the button and tailpin, and internally. The pegs have all been bushed. The sound is hard but clear in the middle and top, a little rough on the G, quite loud. Prelude strings. It may improve with playing as it has been apart while I repaired it. The neck on this violin is unusually narrow.

    5. No. 501 in my book. £285.









  5. violin 533 Labelled 'Antonius Straduiuarius Cremonensis faciebat Anno 17', Made in Czechoslovakia has been scratched out. Probably post 1945. Two piece back with attractive flame, medium arching, brown varnish, stained rosewood fingerboard. A lot of scratches, but no repairs. There is a small shake in the back in the region of the soundpost, which is visible on the outside but which doesn't extend through to the inside. Pegs recently replaced. Sound is rather middle of the road, possibly a little hard-edged with the fitted strings (Prim).

    6. No. 533 in my book. £265.









  6. violin 513 Unlabelled, probably German, early 20th century. Two piece flamed back, medium to low arching, warm red-brown varnish. Reasonable condition, nicks and scratches but no repairs. Strong, open sound, clear and resonant but not warm, maybe a little thin on the E string, plenty of volume. This violin was previously offered 'as seen' as a commission sale, but is now offered under my normal conditions, with new bridge and alloy tailpiece and Helicore strings.

    7. No. 513 in my book. £180.
     









  7. violin Unlabelled, late 19th or early 20th century Klingenthal violin. Two piece lightly flamed back, medium to low arching, thin yellow-brown varnish. The instrument is cosmetically poor but has been fully overhauled and is in good playable condition with new Prelude strings. Sound is fairly warm, tending toward bright, fairly even across the strings. In all, typical of this type of violin. This violin is a commission sale and is offered 'as seen'.

    8. No number, please quote 'commission 21'. £180.
     







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This page last updated September 2025