posted on September 11, 2004 09:47:15 PM new
Anyone know anything about Mirecourt violins? I did a Google search and could only find info about sales prices...nothing on eBay. Also wondered about a Berini bow. Nothing on Google. Thanks for any help.
posted on September 11, 2004 11:05:10 PM new
If you did a Google search on "mirecourt violin", you would have gotten many results containing the phrase "French Mirecourt". This is a clue that Mirecourt has something to do with France.
So you do another search on "mirecourt france" and the first result you get contains the phrase "Guitar by Antoine Aubry, Mirecourt, France". Guitar...violin... Could Mirecourt have been a center for makers of stringed instruments?
In browsing your search results you come upon the fact that the French word for violin maker is "luthier".
If you go one step further and search on "mirecourt luthier", note that Google will translate the French results into English for you if you ask.
posted on September 11, 2004 11:44:33 PM new
Hope this helps. Are you sure you have a violin and not a viola. Violins are smaller and sleaker than a viola. Viola has a wide body and a lower sound.
posted on September 12, 2004 08:57:51 AM new
classicrock<---new a Frank Viola that pitched for the Minnesota Twins and New York Mets.......but I guess thats not what were talking about here is it?
posted on September 12, 2004 09:05:49 AM new
Since we don't have a pic of the Mirecourt Viola...here's a postcard of Frank I LOVE THE NEW VENDIO IMAGE SEARCH FEATURE!
posted on September 12, 2004 09:19:53 AM new
As FWC aka IRT aka WTF says, it does take some poking around on the web to find information.
I had an old violin, there are many many sites with fab info on violins. Mine was worth the time it took to give it to a friend, most are.
But you never know...the "Red Violin" may just be hidden under a bush...not.
Anyhoo...
good luck, make google your friend.
posted on September 12, 2004 09:20:16 AM new
Thanks, all. Appreciate the links, Libra...the posts on the bow were generally from others who were also seeking information. Berini must have been an obscure maker. I know nothing about stringed instruments so will have to do more research re: violin/viola. I noticed the French references on Google but my instrument has a paper sticker on the inside that says "Made in Germany" so was a bit confused. Obviously, more research is needed.
posted on September 12, 2004 01:55:45 PM new
I often wonder why people give incomplete information if they're looking for an answer.
However.
If you have a "Made in Germany" sticker, it's a whole new ballgame.
Yours may be a Black Forest violin.
Certainly it either predates the split of Germany or follows Unification ( otherwise it wouldn't just say "Germany" ); if it is a Black Forest copy violin like so many on the general market today, it was probably made closer to the end of the 19th century.
Black Forest factories produced cheap violins in the style of famous makers (Stradivarius, Amati, Guarneri, etc.) The label is intended to denote the style the instrument was made in, not to deceive the contemporary buyer into thinking they were getting an actual Strad or Amati. People at that time understood this.
There are many (as in many thousands) of these instruments extant today and the cultural context in which they were produced has been lost.
Your violin may have been made in the "style" of a Mirecourt luthier or a general Mirecourt style.
--
[ edited by iareateacher on Sep 12, 2004 01:59 PM ]
posted on September 12, 2004 02:03:10 PM new
I forgot to mention the Sears Roebuck link to this subject.
If you page through any of the Sears mail order catalogue reproductions from the early 20th century, you will see complete violin kits offered for astonishingly low prices. These feature the Black Forest violin copies referred to above. There may have been other retailers selling these violins locally, but Sears almost certainly sold more than anyone else.
Check out the catalogue repros. You may find a reference to your bow there.
posted on September 12, 2004 04:39:29 PM new
Thanks, "teach"...you're better than Google! The white paper sticker says "Copy of Antonius Stradivarius" and, underneath that, "faciebat Cremona 1713" and, beneath that, "Made in Germany". So, it sounds like your were right on in terms of this instrument. Any idea of its value?
posted on September 12, 2004 06:01:21 PM new
Value depends on the tone of the instrument. Some of these violins are quite acceptable to play, though they'll never fetch a huge price. Ballpark is around $300 for one with a nice sound in good condition.
If the bridge or other parts are missing, much less than that. Violin repair ain't cheap.
posted on September 12, 2004 08:32:46 PM new
Thanks again, "Teach"...The one I have is not in very good condition so will list "as is" and see what the market says. I do appreciate your help/advice.
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