![]() Don’t hesitate to talk to the resident expert or to ask for a condition report. Visit local violin shops and familiarize yourself with a wide range of instruments and makers while noting differences in quality, condition, and prices. But before you book a flight, learn the lay of the land. In the United States, Skinner Fine Musical Instruments and Tarisio hold viewing days in New York or Boston while London is the site of viewing days by Tarisio and auctions by Bromptons, Ingles and Hayday, and some smaller auction houses. “We want buyers who come to our auctions to take advantage of the opportunities that this platform offers and to feel empowered and confident in their decision.” “Occasionally instruments at auction will fetch crazy prices, if there is a major bidding war,” Ingles says, “but most of the time they sell below retail prices, often significantly below.” This allows the buyer the freedom to take an independent approach in their search by focusing on the items that appeal to them most.”Īnd there is the possibility of finding a real bargain. “As an internet-based bidding platform, all lots in our auctions are posted on our website with high-resolution photos, so anyone can preview the catalog ahead of visiting. ![]() So what are the advantages of purchasing at auction? “Auctions are a unique opportunity for buyers to have access to a large selection of instruments and bows from a variety of makers and periods at one time,” says Jason Price, founder of Tarisio Fine Instruments and Bows. “The truth could hardly be more different-over the 23 years that I have been auctioning stringed instruments and bows, the auction houses have worked hard on dragging themselves into the 21st century, with most now providing a transparent service with reliable expertise and accessible viewings.” “The public perception of auctions is often of a shady business conducted largely behind closed doors, with secret signals, tricks of the trade, and the chance that if you scratch your nose you might accidentally spend £100,000,” says Tim Ingles, director of Ingles and Hayday auction house in London. It can be a daunting task, but there are a few simple steps even a novice can take to turn all of the drama into a successful purchase. That’s how Strings set the stage for a 2006 article about the auction trade. No need to play, they know by looking, and there are 400 lots to get through, not to mention another 500 across the street at Tarisio, or the 200 they saw a few days ago at Christie’s in New York. Moving methodically down the rows, catalogs in hand, they dispassionately examine each lot, making notes on condition and how much they might be willing to spend. It’s easy to pick the dealers out from the throng. A couple of ratty old bows serve those who simply must play something in order to make a decision. A few resemble carcasses, with big cracks or missing pieces. L ong tables fill the preview galleries at Skinner auction house in Boston, crowded with double rows of violins and violas in various states of repair. And is here to support you and the string world with fantastic content (like this story!) If you like what we do, please make a donation to support our work and keep the site running.įollowing a few simple steps before you bid can save you a lot of headaches-and hard-earned cash
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