Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 37

Thread: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

  1. #1
    Registered User Tom C's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Warwick, NY
    Posts
    3,985

    Default stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    https://www.yahoo.com/music/s/stolen...093759462.html

    I guess everybody can chime in on the insurance aspect.

  2. The following members say thank you to Tom C for this post:


  3. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Cool! That must have been an exciting day for the appraiser. Bummer for Mr. Johnson's wife.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  4. #3
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Indeed. So glad they protected her anonymity. Sort of.

    But the best part is it got returned to the owner's family. Next is that they're going to sell it, but not to a collector - I assume that means to a violinist, so it will get played, not kept as an investment. That's what it's meant for.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  5. #4

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Wonderful story. Oops, "Lady, I've got some good news and some bad news--the violin is worth $15M, but unfortunately it is stolen!"

    What's up with these "deathbed confessions"?

    Nice to know it will get played. Also, nice to know that to some people $15 Million isn't a lot of money.........???????

  6. #5
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    I didn't see any deathbed confession. is there another article?
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  7. #6
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    The deathbed confession concerned a different violin, the Gibson, the one that Joshua Bell now owns.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  8. #7

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    I didn't see any deathbed confession. is there another article?
    The article goes on to mention other stolen Strads--one stolen in 1936 and recovered in 1985 due to a deathbed confession of the person who stole it. I think I remember 60 Minutes doing a segment on this one, back in 1985.

    What is amazing to me is the lust for Strads that people have. Really getting into "Maltese Falcon" territory....

  9. #8
    wood butcher Spruce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Orcas Island, Washington
    Posts
    6,172

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Mando View Post
    What is amazing to me is the lust for Strads that people have. Really getting into "Maltese Falcon" territory....
    Yeah, good thing we don't have any of that kind of lust around here...

  10. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Spruce For This Useful Post:


  11. #9

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Quote Originally Posted by Spruce View Post
    Yeah, good thing we don't have any of that kind of lust around here...
    Well, we do of course, but most of us are reasonable enough to stop short of stealing.

    Which brings me to my next question: I watched a Joshua Bell interview about his Strad and he says from the first few notes he knew he had to have it and he "mortgaged his life away" and has played nothing else since he got it. My question is, how does a person of normal means get a mortgage or "loan" for $3.6 million dollars? (I believe that is what it cost at the time, it is worth more now)

    I know sometimes wealthy collectors/players will loan their instruments to aspiring artists, Steve Martin loaning his Loar comes to mind. But, in this case Bell was able to purchase it with credit. I also remember YoYo Ma purchased a Strad cello for around $4M about 20 years ago--not sure what his financial situation was at the time--he was certainly well-known by then.

    Just thinking out loud--probably quite a few of us would be playing a Loar if we could buy on time. (see I switched the discussion from violins to mandolins)

  12. The following members say thank you to Jeff Mando for this post:


  13. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Pennsylvania, US
    Posts
    55

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom C View Post

    I guess everybody can chime in on the insurance aspect.
    I can probably end that discussion quickly. The family repaid the insurance claim in order to get the violin back. There was either a buy-back provision in the policy or they have a really nice insurance company.

  14. The following members say thank you to Peewee for this post:


  15. #11

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Another question. Not that I can afford it, but how much would insurance cost to insure a $15 million dollar instrument? Just to be curious.
    Last edited by Jeff Mando; Aug-06-2015 at 12:54pm.

  16. #12
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    13,103

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    I'm sure it was valued at a lot less when it was stolen. I don't know how buybacks work, though. Do you pay back the original claim amount? With interest? Adjusted for inflation? Or does the insurance company get to recalculate the violin's value before selling it back?

    Or ... is there a chance Totenberg actually didn't have the Strad insured, and that's why it's going back to his family rather than an insurance company?
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  17. #13
    Mandolin Dreams Unlimited MysTiK PiKn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    S.E. ON CA
    Posts
    997

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    This news was also just now mentioned on 'bbc world news'. Apparently the original owner said, when it was stolen, "it was like he had lost his arm".

    BIG news in the violin world - and that world is very different to guitarland and mandoland.

    I've seen a PBS show that airs occasionally called "the two gentlemen of verona" . They show many pix of these incredible instruments, and interviews with some very famous owner/players. Great vid, if you get a chance to see it........

    The 2 'gentlemen':
    Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù
    Antonius Stradivarius

    = The Loar, LM700VS c.2013 = "The Brat"
    = G. Puglisi, "Roma" c.1907 = "Patentato" - rare archBack, canted top, oval
    = Harmony, Monterrey c.1969 = collapsed ply - parts, testing, training, firewood.


    "The intellect is a boring load of crawp. Aye. Next wee chune".

  18. #14
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    ...Or ... is there a chance Totenberg actually didn't have the Strad insured, and that's why it's going back to his family rather than an insurance company?
    Probably. It was a different world when this was stolen and the value of these things has skyrocketed.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  19. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Pennsylvania, US
    Posts
    55

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    I'm sure it was valued at a lot less when it was stolen. I don't know how buybacks work, though. Do you pay back the original claim amount? With interest? Adjusted for inflation? Or does the insurance company get to recalculate the violin's value before selling it back?

    Or ... is there a chance Totenberg actually didn't have the Strad insured, and that's why it's going back to his family rather than an insurance company?
    Someone here probably knows more than me, but it depends on the policy. It could be the original claim amount, original claim plus interest, or current value.

    From the Washington Post story:

    "The Totenbergs repaid the insurance company the $101,000 doled out back in 1980 so they could reclaim their father’s violin."

  20. #16
    Registered User 8ch(pl)'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Suburb of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
    Posts
    2,221

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    I remember reading about a Stradivarius that was stolen at Carnegie hall in the 30's. It was recovered many years later. the Insurance company had paid a claim for the loss and gave a finder's fee to the family of the man who stole it. was this the Gibson Stradivarius?

  21. #17
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States
    Posts
    14,284
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    This is NPR Supreme Court Corespondent Nina Totenberg's father's violin. Heard this this morning.

    Very cool to have it returned and soon back into circulation.

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

    + Give Blood, Save a Life +

  22. The following members say thank you to JEStanek for this post:


  23. #18
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Of course it is! I knew the name seemed familiar, just couldn't place it, out of context. Haven't listed to NPR - or any radio - for a long while.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  24. #19
    Registered User JonDoug's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Tucson, Arizona
    Posts
    57

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Nina Totenberg's article on NPR fills in most of the missing details from the family's perspective:

    http://www.npr.org/2015/08/06/427718...after-35-years

    Hope they get their father's (also vintage) bow back, too!

  25. The following members say thank you to JonDoug for this post:


  26. #20

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Quote Originally Posted by 8ch(pl) View Post
    I remember reading about a Stradivarius that was stolen at Carnegie hall in the 30's. It was recovered many years later. the Insurance company had paid a claim for the loss and gave a finder's fee to the family of the man who stole it. was this the Gibson Stradivarius?
    Yes, that is the Gibson Strad. A teenage boy and his mother plotted the theft, over time, with the boy befriending the doormen at Carnegie Hall and watching the door for them while they took cigarette breaks. They waited for the right victim, a Polish violinist named Huberman, chosen because of the quality of his instrument and the fact he was foreign, they felt he would not stay in the United States long in search of his Strad. The thief kept the violin for 50 years until his death and yes, his wife received a finder's fee from Lloyds of London, when she returned the violin to them.

  27. #21
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Thanks for the link to Nina Totenberg's article. Brilliant story, despite her assessment of it as mundane.

    Great finish: Of course, Stradivarius owners are really just guardians of these great artistic instruments. We will sell the Ames Strad — now perhaps the Ames-Totenberg Stradivarius. We will make sure it is in the hands of another virtuoso violinist. And once again, the beautiful, brilliant and throaty voice of that long-stilled violin will thrill audiences in concert halls around the world.

    Hear, hear!

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	stradivarius_totenberg.jpg 
Views:	155 
Size:	55.6 KB 
ID:	137041
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  28. The following members say thank you to journeybear for this post:


  29. #22
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    13,103

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Quote Originally Posted by Peewee View Post
    "The Totenbergs repaid the insurance company the $101,000 doled out back in 1980 so they could reclaim their father’s violin."
    Wow. The folks at the insurance company must be kicking themselves. On the other hand, buying it for $101K means the family can sell it below its appraised value to a deserving musician and still make a healthy profit.
    Last edited by mrmando; Aug-07-2015 at 12:56am.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  30. #23
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,633

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    It is wonderful that the instrument was recovered. There is some speculation that it was not made by the hand of Antonio but rather was made by his son Francesco. Experts have a lot more information about late model Strads today then thirty years ago. If it is a Francesco, it will be worth a lot less then one made by his father.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  31. #24
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    13,103

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    It is wonderful that the instrument was recovered. There is some speculation that it was not made by the hand of Antonio but rather was made by his son Francesco. Experts have a lot more information about late model Strads today than thirty years ago. If it is a Francesco, it will be worth a lot less then one made by his father.
    1734 is a late year; Stradivari died in 1737, and IIRC some of the work on the latest violins isn't considered quite up to the standard established by the ones he built in his prime. Still, I'm sure the violin has appreciated nicely from both the $15K Totenberg paid for it in 1943 and the $101K buyback amount. The Post-Gazette article alludes to Francesco:
    http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music...s/201508060196
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  32. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to mrmando For This Useful Post:


  33. #25

    Default Re: stolen stradivarius violin recovered after 35 years

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    Still, I'm sure the violin has appreciated nicely from both the $15K Totenberg paid for it in 1943 and the $101K buyback amount.
    Stories like this fascinate me, both as a musician and also from an economic point of view. $15K was INSANE money to spend in 1943. An average new car cost $850 in 1940 (cars weren't being made during WWII), $2000 bought a brand new Cadillac. $5-10K bought a nice home. $15K bought a mansion. Average US Salary in 1940 was $956 annually (for a man) according to the 1940 US Census. Unless Totenberg was independently wealthy, which he may have been, I don't quite understand how it all adds up. This is not just a kid working hard sacking groceries and buying a new Corvette--this is big big money for the time. Was the 15K in goods and services?

    Reread some more about Joshua Bell, come to find out when he got the Gibson Strad for $3.6 Million, HE ALREADY had another Strad worth $2 Million that he sold, so again I ask the question, how does a young "whippersnapper" come up with that kind of scratch? It is obvious to me now at this late date, I should have studied something besides basketweaving in college.....

  34. The following members say thank you to Jeff Mando for this post:


Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •