This is a copy of a Carlo Bergonzi Violin that was originally made in 1757. It was copied around 1850. As seen in the photographs, there are several cracks to the top which have been repaired and reinforced. The one-piece maple back is deeply flamed. The top is of straight close-grained spruce. This is a soloistic instrument with a very large voice, rich resonance and excellent projection. The sound is sweet and silvery and the strings are even across.
The violin was played by Miss Helen Vogel for all of her professional career, including many years as the only female member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in the 1920s and 1930s. It should be noted here that when her father purchased the violin for Helen, he was told that the instrument was actually made by Carlo Bergonzi himself. One can only imagine the disappointment when many years later Miss Vogel was informed by an appraiser that her violin was a copy.
Bergonzi worked in the shop of Antonio Stradivari, doing repairs for the great master. During Bergonzi’s career he made over 300 of the most beautiful violins on earth. If Miss Vogel’s instrument had been genuine, today it would be worth several hundred thousand dollars.
As a sign of the times, she received the following letter from the orchestra dated Feb. 18, 1931, written by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Manager of Personnel, Reuben Lawson:
“My Dear Miss Vogel: |
A copy of the above letter, along with a newspaper article about Miss Vogel during that time, come with the original alligator case that protects the instrument.