Violin

Label: Paolo Antonio Testore figlio
di Carlo Giuseppe Testore...1751

Acquired from a friend in Southern Italy. Crude scroll work, but no pegbox cracks.
Grafted pegbox/scroll, with neck that is likely not original. Neck is still somewhat
straighter than that of a modern instrument. Matches dictionary definitions to a tee.
Powerful upper registers, rusty old tone. Can certainly penetrate to the back of the
concert hall in a Vivaldi concerto. Superb rusty, textured sound. Excellent clarity.
Cons - Instrument is somewhat moody, sometimes it will thrill you out of the case,
other times it seems deadish and needs to be warmed up for 30-60 minutes to speak.
Damage - Sustained 2 regular table cracks, along with one soundpost crack. Cracks
repaired and soundpost well patched. Some reddish varnish was applied to the table
of the instrument at one point. Some has been removed, but some remains. Perhaps
intended to tone down the original orangeish color. Instrument appears to also have
a foundation finish of yellow. Superb patina. One of the best violins I have played,
I believe it to be authentic. - MD

$17,500.








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