Posted: 8 November 2021
Category: Company News
18th Century Italian Violin Discovered
Occasionally on a probate valuation we discover treasures that even the family are unaware of and recently one of our team found one such item at the back of a cupboard. Normally if we find a violin case it houses a quite ordinary, usually German, violin that generally sells for less than £200. However, on this occasion something far more interesting was discovered inside.
The colour, wear, quality and general patination suggested 18th century so we sent it to our musical instrument consultant for a more accurate opinion. After a dendrology report confirmed the wood came from a tree cut down in 1764 it was decided that the overall appearance of the piece suggested it was in the style of Panormo an 18th century Italian violin maker.
Vincenzo Panormo came from Palermo in Sicily and worked his way through Italy, Paris and Dublin to reach London. His sons Joseph, George and Louis followed into the business and between them they became one of the most celebrated violin making families of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
The family were staggered to discover that if sold on the open market it could realise in the region of £4000 – £6000.
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