LSternberg - - Violin - Hungary (No reserve price)

An attractive and characterful antique full-size 4/4 violin, bearing a historic Sternberg Budapest label inside the instrument and accompanied by an interesting dated document relating to its known history.

The violin displays the unmistakable character of an extensively played historic instrument, with a warm reddish-brown finish and a beautifully developed natural patina.

Inside the violin is a distinctive black-and-gold Sternberg label, referring to Budapest's VII district.

The Sternberg name is associated with the important musical-instrument trade of Budapest around the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Sternberg business was not limited to violins: it was involved in the manufacture and/or distribution of a wide variety of musical instruments and musical goods, making the name an interesting part of Hungarian musical and commercial history.

Documented history

An especially interesting feature of this lot is the dated document discovered inside the violin case.

The document was issued in Pécs, Hungary, on 20 July 2020, when the instrument was handed over for repair. Significantly, the document specifically describes the instrument as:

“egy 4/4 Sternberg hegedű” – “a 4/4 Sternberg violin”.

The same document also records a Stagg violin case and bow, both of which are still present and are included in this auction.

The document therefore provides a dated record showing that the instrument was already identified as a 4/4 Sternberg violin in 2020 and that it was submitted for repair at that time.

The original document is included with the lot and is shown in the photographs.

Playing condition

The violin was documented as having been submitted for repair in 2020.

It is currently playable and produces a pleasant, resonant violin tone.

The instrument is fitted with a bridge, four tuning pegs, a tailpiece with four fine tuners and a chin rest.

Condition

The violin has a strongly developed and visually appealing age-related patina.

As expected from an old instrument that has clearly been played and used over a long period, there are numerous signs of age and use, including scratches, areas of varnish wear, marks, small knocks and other surface imperfections.

These traces of use contribute considerably to the historic character and appearance of the instrument rather than giving it the appearance of a modern reproduction.

The scroll, pegbox, tuning pegs, neck, neck-to-body joint, ribs, back, soundboard, bridge, tailpiece and f-holes have all been extensively photographed.

Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description and clearly show the present condition of the instrument.

Measurements

Size: Full size / 4/4
Length of body (LOB): 35.5 cm
Total length: 60 cm
Upper bout: 16.5 cm
Middle bout: 11 cm
Lower bout: 20.5 cm

Included in the lot

The complete lot consists of:

4/4 antique violin bearing a Sternberg Budapest label
Stagg violin case
Violin bow
Original dated repair/receipt document from 20 July 2020

An interesting detail is that the surviving 2020 document mentions not only the 4/4 Sternberg violin, but also the Stagg case and bow, which remain together with the instrument today.

Important note regarding attribution

The instrument bears a Sternberg label, and the accompanying dated 2020 document independently describes the instrument as a “4/4 Sternberg violin.”

However, no independent certificate of authenticity or attribution issued by a qualified luthier accompanies the instrument. Therefore, the Sternberg attribution is presented on the basis of the label inside the violin and the accompanying historical repair document, rather than as a certified attribution.

A highly characterful historic violin with a beautiful aged appearance, playable condition, documented repair history, case, bow and surviving documentation — an appealing ensemble for a violin collector, musician or collector of Hungarian musical history.