Their Success and Appeal in the Market
by Ethan Ladd
Results for the February 2012 Speculative, Restorable & Trade Auction are in: 339 bidders, 4,459 bids, 386 lots, and 100% sold. This is the fourth time Tarisio has achieved a 100% sales rate, known as a ‘White Glove Sale.’ However, beneath the statistics is the sub-text of an important market for affordable instruments and bows, and some remarkable stories.
A notable characteristic of these speculative auctions is their wide selection of instruments offered within a narrow price range. In the February 2012 Auction, 191 violins were offered with estimates not exceeding $8,000 in deviation. While some items may ultimately sell for prices beyond this range because of intense interest, the viewing gallery is the ultimate level playing field.
“It’s about value
whether you are a player,
collector, or member of the trade.”
Players looking for superior tone without placing priority on the maker’s name can find a treasure trove of violins waiting to be discovered. In a catalog where many instruments appear with uncertain attributions, the thrill of discovery is tempting.
We witness plenty of musicians who have a limited budget or are looking for a second instrument, browsing the sale ‘blind’ to the catalog, but with eyes, ears, and minds wide open for the violin with the sound they seek. They play with confidence that whatever instrument appeals to them will be affordable and offered with the same services available at the high end of the market: free access to condition reports, high-quality photography, an Authenticity Guarantee where applicable, and, most importantly, a transparent bidding format.
“They play with confidence that what appeals to them will be affordable
& offered with services available at the high end of the market.”
Yet, as testament to the diversity offered in these auctions, one violin that received particular attention in our viewings, the online forum Maestronet.com, and our website, couldn’t even be played! Lot 389, a French violin by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume broken into more pieces than most people have ever seen, was the subject of intense bidding that surprised nearly everyone.
Upon seeing violin pieces in plastic bags stored in a cardboard box, it is clear to anyone that there is a dramatic story to be told. The owner had cherished the violin for many years and his family had lately urged him to sell, but his fondness always made him refuse. For a special occasion with his wife, he decided to play to her while walking down their stairs, but disaster struck when he tripped and fell, breaking the violin into pieces. To the astonishment of many, the violin sold for $39,000 on estimates of $6,000–9,000. The allure for most bidders was the chance to play a role in that story while restoring the violin to playing condition.
In many ways, this violin represents what is exciting about these auctions: speculation and discovery at reasonable prices. It’s about value, whether you are a player, collector, or member of the trade. As we plan for the next Speculative, Restorable & Trade sale in July, we invite you to look at and listen to an affordable range of instruments and bows, destined to be played.
