Hi Kenneth,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Antonio Stradivari was the most famous violin maker in history, active in Cremona, Italy during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He established a format- called the Strad model - for making stringed instruments that was followed by luthiers (stringed instrument makers) beginning in the late 18th Century. It even continues to this day.

Violin (and viola/cello etc) labels are notoriously unreliable (see this link for a good explanation: https://stringsmagazine.com/an-insiders-guide-to-violin-labels/) but this label - with the initials "AS" within a double circle - is a 20th Century label indicating this was made by a luthier working in the Stradivari tradition.

Condition and musicality are a huge part of the value of an instrument and while I can't vouch for that from photos, I've appraised this instrument based on the recent auction sales of similar Strad model violins.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A vintage Strad model full size violin
after Antonio Stradivari, 20th Century
spruce front, maple back, ebony fingerboard, frog and chin rest. Labeled to the interior
Overall: 23 inches long
CONDITION: this appears to be in good condition
PROVENANCE: unknown
$400-600*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, and thank you again for using Mearto.