How much is a 100-year-old violin worth?

Question:I own a violin that is about 100 years old. It does not look like a cheapo, and does not look like a really expensive one either...probably somewhere in between. Where can I take it for an appraisal? How much do you think it could possibly be worth?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I own a violin that is about 100 years old. It does not look like a cheapo, and does not look like a really expensive one either...probably somewhere in between. Where can I take it for an appraisal? How much do you think it could possibly be worth?

It doesn't matter how old your violin is, or what it looks like, it is all about the sound that it makes. If you look inside the instrument there should be a label either telling you who the maker was or telling you what style it was constructed in...ie. many say stradivarius---and they aren't actual, just constructed after the design. Be careful before you pay someone to appraise your instument, because there are many $100 century old violins out there. See if you can do some research on your own. Or if you play, you may be able to tell by how your instrument sounds. Good luck!

There are two ways for you to get an answer to your quesiton. The first would be to ask a professional violinist in your city. The second and most accurate way would be to get an appraisal done by someone in a reputed string repair shop.

The first way is cheap, as in free. Someone could look at it and in a few seconds could give you a rough/ballpark figure. The latter method will cost you. Places can charge $75-100 for a written appraisal.

Unless you think it is very valuable, you may not want to spend the money on a professional appraisal.

Do you know any history of this instrument? Who owned it?

100 years is not that old for a string instrument. However, it is possible it is worth several thousand depending on the maker. Or it could be worth very little...

Good luck.

It is worth whatever you can get for it. We live in an age where value is determined by one simple formula; What the buyer will bear! There are several factors to consider of course:

1. As you said, the age of the instrument. You mentioned that it i over one hundred years old which qualifies it as a genuine antique. When you consider that this is not extremely old when it comes to instruments however, it is not a huge discriminating factor.

2. the condition of the instrument. If the instrument is playable, has a fine tone, has been well cared for, has many of the original accessories, has a fine bow, has a peculiar or distinguished history, has a clearly recognizable label with a serial number or signature indicating that it was assembled by a fine luthier, or you have some way to prove that it was played by a particularly fine or notorious individual, it might raise the price.

3. The environment in which the instrument was found. An instrument found in a safe, locked away in the bowels of the Titanic has historical value above and beyond the worth of the instrument.

4. Your ability to create value. Anyone can sell a one hundred year old instrument, but a few canny individuals will take the care to have it properly restored (if it is worth the effort) and make sure it gets into the hands of someone who will treasure it. A few others will actually make the instrument appear older than it is and weave a fantasy around it in order to increase it's charismatic value. (This instrument was given to the best friend of my Great Great Grandfather's brother to settle a gambling debt by someone with the last name of Stradivarius! I hate to get rid of it because of the sentimental value, but my daughter who is a pianist keeps telling me that I am the worst kind of scoundrel because I am hoarding a great instrument that should really be in the hands of a fine player like, yourself!)

I would begin by taking the instrument to a local luthier. He or she should be able to tell you within minutes, if the instrument should be inspected further. The only reason to get it professionally appraised is if you want to sell it, or you are just curious. Avoid local antique dealers. They are legitimately interested in obtaining your instrument for the lowest dollar amount they can possibly obtain it for so they can get a large profit margin.

You can always put it up for sale on commission of course. Agree in advance on a high and low figure, as well as the time frame you are willing to wait to close a sale. Use a reputable dealer that actually specializes in instruments, and if none is willing to take it, you have answered your own question for free. Best of luck in any case and of course your best bet would be to have it restored to playing condition and learn to play it yourself. The health benifits are amazing and the enjoyment you will get out of it will be far more than whatever you can sell the instrument for.

Just because it's a hundred years old doesn't mean anything....does it have a label in it ? A name...if so you could look that name up in a book from the library on violins....you could also type the name of it on google and see what comes up....If there's no name, take it to a place that deals in fine instruments...but be careful....not all are reputable...don't take the opinion of one person. A hundred years ago they had lots of violin makers....not all were that good.....just like today....you can buy a guitar for $150.00 and a hundred years from now someone may have one and have no idea what the value is....unless examined by an expert....hope this helped some...good luck...be careful !!!!!