28 replies to this topic

[caspace]

http://www.ebay.com/...6#ht_720wt_1270

[zefir68]

By my relatively untrained eye, if this proves to be a Vuillaume, I will be the lead dancer in the next production of Swan Lake at the Met. (I am 43, 5'8", a shade under 200 lbs, no ballet training and a face for radio)

[Oldtimerr]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-fantastic-certified-French-violin-by-J-B-Vuillaume-/230826370086?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35be52e426#ht_720wt_1270

Regardless of who certified this instrument, it is simply not a Vuillaume. I can understand if a seller does not know anything about violins believing the papers that come with it, but as this auction ends, there will not be one person who will bid believing that this vioiin is really a Vuillaume. ot

[jacobsaunders]

Is there really a “Milan” in Tennesee? Makes you wonder why Markneukirchen shouldn`t have a Paris!

[lyndon]

notice how the "appraisal" photo conveniently lops off the name of the appraiser shop at the top of the page, very suspicious.

[C.B.Fiddler]

It appears to read "Alexander Cameron Violins" at the top. It is signed the same at the bottom. I can find no reference to this name/business online and the address appears to be a 3 bedroom house in Jonesboro, GA. http://www.realtor.c...7605?source=web

[violinfan]

Is there really a “Milan” in Tennesee? Makes you wonder why Markneukirchen shouldn`t have a Paris!

Yes there is a Milan in Tennessee. It is about midway between Memphis and Nashville, and about 40 miles from Paris, Tennessee.

[Brad Dorsey]

Yes there is a Milan in Tennessee. It is about midway between Memphis and Nashville, and about 40 miles from Paris, Tennessee.

Maine has a Paris, too.

[jacobsaunders]

Goodness! they seem to have about everything except a Markneukirchen or a Schönbach!

[Jeffrey Holmes]

Michigan has a Milan too... but the residents pronounce it "my-lan". Venice, Michigan has a more traditional pronunciation... but my favorite name for a town in this state is Hell, Michigan.

[jacobsaunders]

Michigan has a Milan too... but the residents pronounce it "my-lan". Venice, Michigan has a more traditional pronunciation... but my favorite name for a town in this state is Hell, Michigan.

If you should get sick of america, there is a "Rottenegg" near Linz

[Addie]

If I was at my desk I could make that cert in 5 minutes...everything but the seal.
You can have those seals made fairly cheaply, or use a large coin to make a blurry embossed seal.
That doesn't mean the certificate is fake, but it would be easy to fake.

[fiddlecollector]

It also says he was associated with Lewis and Kenneth Warren. He apparently died in 1980 aged 76 years.

[Dan Everett]

Yes there is a Milan in Tennessee. It is about midway between Memphis and Nashville, and about 40 miles from Paris, Tennessee.

You can't miss it! just look for the campground full of school buses!

[Kev Chanot]

What is the reason for the extaordinarily high prices for Vuillaumes? Are they really that much finer than many other 19thc French violins?

[martin swan]

Very good question!
I suppose the workmanship it quite special, Vuillaume certainly had unprecedented access to Cremonese instruments, but as players his violins seem quite average to my ears and hugely over-rated price-wise.
Vuillaume appears to have been a consummate businessman who made the best possible use of his talents .....
Lupot would get my vote every time.

[Kev Chanot]

Yes,Lupot immediately sprang to my mind,as well......What on earth are Lupot violins fetching these days!??

[martin swan]

A bit more than a Vuillaume ....! There was a fantastic sounding one at Tarisio last year in perfect condition which went for £150,000 : Lupot/Tarisio
I also think some Silvestre violins are at least equal to Vuillaumes in tone, possibly better, and a good Honore Derazey is pretty unbeatable. I don't have huge experience of any of these makers, but of the four Vuillaumes I've played, only one seemed in any way special. The others were comparable to a good Laberte Workshop violin, though of course much nicer to look at!

[fiddlecollector]

I agree with above havent been too impressed with alot of Vuillaumes ive seen,if you stripped the varnish off ,they could almost be any good Parisian maker from the mid 19th century. I also favour lupot and one or two other earlier 19th century makers ,i had a Clement that was excellent ,at least i thought and was a fraction of the price of a Vuillaume. Theres many little mentioned French makers that are really good such as Calot and Augiere.I also like George Chanot,Bernardel Pere ,The Hel`s,Silvestre, Gand`s and a few others made some excellent violins.
What i could never figure out with the Vuillaume shop is the makers who made violins for him never produced much of a similar quality outside his employment,some pretty bad. I find that surprising as i doubt Vuillaume had much involvement in the actual making,other than giving instructions .The few early Vuillaumes ive seen werent that good either .

[vclatl]

Thirty or so years ago I was told by a reliable source that Vuillaumes were appreciating because the 'real' stuff (Stradivari)had gotten too expensive, so players/enthusiasts were buying the copies.

As to their quality, I can attest that 4 of my colleagues in my (professional)ICSOM orchestra play them, and I know that they were bought at approximately $30,000. One of that four is almost never played (he prefers his Wm. Luff), but it is kept for investment and sentimental reasons.

I've seen a heck of a lot more Vuillaumes than any of the other French makers mentioned here. I think I've only seen one Lupot violin in my life. (It's OK, it's not my line of work anyway; I just think it's interesting.)