Mystery violin donated to Canberra Youth Orchestra could be a rare Spanish masterpiece

The Canberra Youth Orchestra has received a mysterious violin donation, sparking intrigue about its origins and potential value.

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Never trust a label

Music for Canberra, a non-profit organization, was contacted by a family who had been gifted the instrument. Initial assessments suggest the violin is old, but its exact age and worth are subjects of debate, with estimates ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.

A label visible through the instrument's f-hole reads "Matriti per Granadensem Josephum Contreras Anno 1752." This points to Josephus Contreras, a 18th-century Spanish luthier known for his work in Madrid, who was influenced by Stradivari. Contreras is considered by some to be the greatest Spanish violin maker, sometimes referred to as "Il Grenadino."

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So, you'd never trust a label

However, luthiers like Michael Hargreaves, who is assisting with the violin's restoration, caution against trusting labels implicitly. "Never trust a label," Hargreaves stated, explaining that Contreras's instruments were sometimes mislabeled with fake Italian tags to increase their value. Despite this, Hargreaves finds the presence of Contreras's own label somewhat "assuring" as it hasn't been tampered with.

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The fact that it's his label in there is kind of assuring because it hasn't been ripped off or emulated.

Further analysis, including forensic examination and cross-referencing wood grain patterns, is required to confirm the violin's provenance. Hargreaves noted that the instrument's detailed craftsmanship, proportions, and carving style suggest it was made by a skilled artisan, possibly dating back to the late 1600s or early 1700s, aligning with the style of renowned European instrument makers like the Amati family.

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But when you look at it more and more, you see a lot of fine detail which says that no, it's not an amateur, it's actually somebody who really knows what they're doing.