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Chapter 4. Physical depreciation: Antique or collector's value of Master Made Violins

Thanks to authoritative certification, most collectors of fine violins can be assured of the genuineness of any given violin. But, aside from genuineness, an integral part of an instrument's value is its physical condition.

Certification has its limits. What are they? Consider the following. Certificates of Authenticity, even the most honored, rarely spell out depreciating physical defects. Their descriptions settle for general terms such as MINT, EXCELLENT, FINE, GOOD or PLAYABLE. These terms, grading the violin, have different meanings to different people. But even when we ignore their ambiguity, they are terms that easily introduce inaccuracy in another way. And the older the certificate, the worse the potential problems -- since the certificate in question (from, say, 1939?) may not accurately describe the physical condition of the certified violin today, some decades later. For all practical purposes, it may describe a different instrument. (Further discussion at: Chapter 8. Certificates.)

Given the above observations, buyers and potential buyers need to know the following:

1. Violins of a particular maker, made at a particular period and considered in MINT physical condition, are PRICE LEADERS. Any other violin of the same maker, made at the same period and place but not in mint physical condition, is priced lower. How much lower depends upon the nature and extent of the depreciating factors.

 2. So far as the collector's value of a master violin is concerned, any of the following factors can contribute to depreciation :

1. Replacements to the essential original parts
2. Repairable Damages to the essential original parts
3. Ethical Alterations to the essential original parts
4. Unethical Alterations to the essential original parts

3. From a collector's point of view, a violin is in its most desirable state when all essential original parts are in MINT condition. Some exceptions are allowed to accommodate ordinary wear from normal usage.

4. Essential to the collector's value of a master violin are the following original parts:

The other parts of the violin do not have to be original and can be replaced professionally. These primarily affect utilitarian qualities and allow for tonal adjustments of the violin. They are the bass-bar, sound post, neck, fingerboard, pegs, nut and saddle, tailpiece, tailgut, end-button, bridge, chinrest and strings.

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