Very Important Modern American Violin-Sacconi School!! Mario DAlessandro, Alumnus SF Sacconi, New York, 1980 Start Price USD 49.00 Current Price USD 6,500.00 Time Left - Bid Count 48 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, August 23, 2008 End Time Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Location Windham, New Hampshire See more about 'Very Important Modern American Violin-Sacconi School!!' Description   This very important modern American violin is offered to the highest bidder with a very low reserve.   This is a fantastic original example of the work of Mario D'Alessandro, student of Simone Ferdinando Sacconi, considered among the greatest violin makers of the 20th century. The violin is authentic and genuinely labeled (the label is large and I needed to splice two photos together to show the entire label)   The violin is accompanied by an original letter of certification by the maker on the shop's letterhead.     The following is from Wikapedia Simone Fernando Sacconi (Rome, May 30, 1895 - Point Lookout, June 26, 1973) was an expert Italian violin maker and restorer who studied fellow luthier Antonio Stradivari extensively during his lifetime. "While still at school he became a workshop assistant to Giuseppe Rossi, a pupil of Degani. By the time he was 16, Sacconi already had his own clientèle, and a particular ability as a maker of copies. In 1931 he moved to New York to work for the dealer Emil Herrmann. He continued to make new instruments – and occasionally bows – but his time there was mainly taken up with repairs and restoration work. In this field he had no equal, an example of his work being a Stradivari of the best period, virtually destroyed in an accident in 1948, which now shows no sign of having suffered. In the imitation of old Italian varnish he excelled all rivals. In 1951 Sacconi went with his pupil D’Attili to work for Rembert Wurlitzer. A first-class workshop was built up and many of the best American repairers were trained in it. In his last years he spent much time teaching in Cremona, Italy, and published I segreti di Stradivari (Cremona, 1972), setting out in detail Stradivari’s working methods." - CHARLES BEARE His constant experiments with varnish was almost an obsession. He was one of the principal organizers of the Stradivari Bicentennial Exhibition in Cremona in 1937. Sacconi won gold medal for a quartet of instruments. In 1972, he was bestowed honorary citizenship by Cremona (the highest honor). Sacconi has directly influenced several generations of makers/restorers: Charles Beare, Max Moller,Pierre Vidoudez, Dario D'Attili, Hans Weisshaar, Anthony Wrona, Jacques Francais, Frank Passa, Bernard Millant, Mario F. D'Alessandro, Harry Duffy, Renè Morel, William Salchow, Hans Nebel, Vahakn Nigogosian, Carlos Arcieri, David Segal, Carleen M. Hutchins, Francesco Bissolotti. Through his disciples (such as Jacques Francais / Renè Morel), he has influenced makers/restorers such as Samuel Zygmuntowicz, Horacio Piñeiro, Boris Sverdlik, David T. Van Zandt, James N. McKean, Christophe Landon, Richard Oppelt, from the shop of Hans Weisshaar came Otto Karl Schenk, David Burgess, Tom Wilder,Andreas Mages (Germany) Bruce Carlson (Italy), Wendy and Peter Moes to name a few. Many celebrated musicians came to him for advice and entrusted him with their precious instruments when they needed attention. List includes Isaac Stern, Yehudi Menuhin, Salvatore Accardo, Pina Carmirelli, Pablo Casals, Paul Doktor, Pierre Fournier, Zino Francescatti, Joseph Fuchs, Raya Garbousova, Carlo Maria Giulini, Bruno Giuranna, Franco Gulli, Charles Libove, Erica Morini, André Navarra, Ruggiero Ricci, Leonard Rose, Toby Saks, Alexander Schneider, Janos Starker, Henryk Szeryng and Uto Ughi were just some of the top musicians who either purchased or had their treasured instruments maintained by him. His main publication was 'I segreti di Stradivari', translated into many languages and sold worldwide. "Simone Sacconi is recognized as one of the important contemporary violin makers. His book explains the construction techniques used by Stradivari with clarity and precision. It is considered an indispensable reference for both the professional and novice violin maker." Eric Blot "Sacconi was described as a "Hero of the art of violinmaking". -Andrea Mosconi "Every detail absorbed his complete attention" - Carlos Arcieri "Described by many expert artisans as an exalted beacon of contemporary restorers and conservators" "....one of the greatest violin maker/ restorers of our time, Simone Fernando Sacconi." - Wanna Zambelli     Willaim Henley (Universal Dictionary of Violin and Bow Makers) and Thomas Wenberg (Violin Makers of the United States) provide additional information about Sacconi. First, from Henley   And from Wenberg   D'Alessandro is a contemporary maker and did much of his best work after both the Henely and Wenberg books were published so although Wenberg contains a brief listing there is little about him.   This is an absolutely splendid violin, equal to the best modern Italian violins.  Sacconi's influence is instantly recognizable in this violin and comparison to Sacconi violins bear an uncanny resemblance to this one. The varnish, model, detail, measurements, all confirm a strong Sacconi style.     The violin is in excellent condition with only very minor repaired cracks (1/2 inch or smaller) near the f holes.  Otherwise the violin is original and undamaged.  This is an instrument that has been heavily used and there are typical signs of expert use including some areas of varnish wear and a few minor scratches. The violin is expertly set up and ready for immediate performance.   The tone is everything a professional performer requires.  Bottomless power combined with a quality of tone that has made Italian violins the most desirable in the world.  The violin combines superb flexibility, tremendous power and volume, brilliance and purity of tone as well and the warmth and soothing darkness that is at the soul of the instrument.  This is a fantastic tool for the accomplished concert violinist whether performing in intimate venues or as a soloist in the largest halls.  This is certainly one of the finest violins I have had the pleasure of offering.     Pleas look over the photos carefully and feel welcome to ask any questions. This is one of the best and most valuable violins I have sold on eBay.  Because of the current market softness and because this violin has significant value, I will alter my usual policy and place a very reasonable reserve to cover a percentage of my cost.  I guarantee that a similar violin to this cannot be purchased at any auction or shop for anywhere close to my reserve. Although I will not disclose the reserve, the bidder who beats it will be very pleasantly surprised, I am sure.  To make it even more interesting, if the first bidder who breaks the reserve wins the auction, I will include a beautiful Bobelok case with the sale at no additional charge.   This is as good as it gets in a modern, handmade violin.  This violin combines all the critical ingredients for a fine long-term investment. It has a wonderful, concert-quality tone, guaranteed genuineness with the maker's letter of authenticity, and classically-trained fine craftsmanship.  The opening bid is $49 and there is a very low reserve.  This is one of the very finest violins I have ever had.  Whomever is lucky enough to win it, and can afford it, will have a phenomenal violin that will appreciate dramatically over time.   If you do win it and decide you don't love it as much as you had hoped, you are welcome to return it for a full refund minus $39 to cover domestic shipping and handling.  I only ask that you try to decide within 14 days and have the violin back to me within 30 days of the auction's end.    Professional packing and Priority or Express shipping via the US Post Office is FREE to any address in the USA!   I have sold hundreds of violins on eBay to satisfied, or more often delighted buyers. My violins are as good as I say they are and I guarantee it. If you buy this violin, and you don't love it, you can return it for a full refund. But please plan on making up your mind and letting me know within 14 days. Absolutely no refunds or returns considered more than 30 days after the auction ends.   If you have any questions, or need additional photos, please don't hesitate to email me.   Insured shipping and professional packaging of the highest order is $0.00 in the US, $49 to Canada, and $79 to most other countries. I pack in very heavyweight, custom-made shipping cartons, lined and well-padded.  I use all new materials designed to provide superior protection for old violins. I ship very fast, usually within 24 hours of payment-or quicker.  You can expect your package to arrive safely within a couple of days of your payment.   Thanks for looking!!!! *********************On Aug-23-08 at 01:56:01 PDT, seller added the following information:SquareTrade © AP6.0 Place a Bid!