A VIOLIN BY GUARNERI DEL GESU, CREMONA, ITALY - 1741 CERTIFIED BY GERARD MURPHY, ATELIER VIOLINS, BUSHEY, UK Start Price USD 2,000,000.00 Current Price USD 2,000,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, December 02, 2008 End Time Tuesday, December 09, 2008 Location Brewton, AL See more about 'A VIOLIN BY GUARNERI DEL GESU, CREMONA, ITALY - 1741' Description                                                                   A VERY FINE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT VIOLIN                                                           BY GUARNERI DEL GESU, CREMONA, ITALY                                                  BEARING THE MAKER'S UNDISTURBED ORIGINAL LABEL                                                This magnificent 18th century Italian violin was discovered and first identified by the current owner, Mr. John A. Thornton, Brewton, Alabama. Advertised for sale in Elderly Instruments webpage during 2006.  Inventoried and described as follows: GUARNERI LABEL      G-VGC, very fine Guarneri copy, probably mid to late 19th century, may be English, two piece of handsome medium curl antiqued varnish from amber to a darker red-brown over a golden ground, varnish has a fair bit of crackle, grafted scroll, ebony heel on back button, boxwood fittings except for ebony endpin, great full rich tone, with oblong HSC. 11OU - 3497 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discovered during early 2006 while browsing the internet. After several months of research and study Mr. Thornton confirmed or ascertained the maker's identity to be Joseph Antonio Guarneri del Gesu and finally established the most probable dates of manufacture to be between the years 1740 - 1742. Mr. Thornton then contacted Elderly Instruments by telephone on 09/04/06, and spoke to a sales person. An offer was made but could not be immediately accepted because the item was on consignment. The sales person contacted the owner/consignee who accepted the price offered. On 09/05/06,  during the early afternoon, Elderly Instruments sales department notified Mr. Thornton by telephone that his offer was accepted by the owner/consignee. Mr. Thornton then conducted the business of sending monies by bank to bank wire transfer to Elderly Instruments. At exactly 05: 42PM, 09/05/06,  a sales receipt (Form Number 856748) for this violin was issued to Mr. John A. Thornton, Brewton, Al.,  by Elderly Instruments, 1100 N. Washington, Lansing, Mi. 48906. Upon safe receipt of the violin a few days later Mr. Thornton did in fact use a moistened Q-tip to clean the grime away from the label and did in fact discover the faint (but visible) year date of 1741. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ The above hereby constitutes a legally binding and sworn affidavit attesting to the fact that every word is truthful and the chain of events (briefly described therein) did in fact occur exactly as stated. On August 08, 2008, Mr. Gerard Murphy, Atelier Violins, Bushey, U. K. , Violin~Maker, restoration expert, and a bonafide, competent, honest appraiser of string family musical instruments, issued a proper Certificate attesting to the authenticity and condition. All pertinent documents regarding this instrument are present and accounted for. We welcome your serious enquiry! Thank you, John A. Thornton Brewton, Al.   Place a Bid!