Extremely fine antique vioiln, Antonio Mariani, 17th Century, 4/4 violin

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Extremely fine antique vioiln, Antonio Mariani, 17th Century, 4/4 violin:
$4550.00

Fine violin from the estate of Mario A. Porazzi. As per receipt, shown in pictures, he purchased this violin from Rodger N. Chittolini, in April of 1947 for the amount of $1,200 (in 1947 dollars!, about $13,000 back then). Rodger N. Chittolini was an affluent New York collector and dealer of fine violins. As per the Tarisio page on Chittolini, he was the owner of several real Strads, including one of the earliest of Strad\'s works, the 1666 Stradivari, and many other fine Italian violins. The vioiln is in mostly restored condition, but may require some additional restoration. It is in playable condition right now, as is though...
Here is a Tarisio archive page on Rodger N. Chittolini: is a very fine violin, and according to the paperwork from Chittolini, is from the 17th Century, Italy. The violin shows the most exquisit craftsmanship and in every way shows the careful and artful dedication of the fine 17th Century Italian makers. The wood used in the top bares a very strong resemblance to the type of spruce used in Amati\'s instruments, as does the wood used in the back... All together, the violin bares a very strong resemblance to an Amati. The violin comes with pegs, and a sound post inside, but no tailpiece.
This is a very rare and very fine violin needful of the utmost consideration. If you have any questions, please ask. Thank you.
P.s. No buyers from Brazil or anywhere in South, or Central America please.International shipping will be the actual shipping and insurance cost. Thank you.

On Feb-09-16 at 15:47:51 PST, seller added the following information:

P.s. I personally purchased this violin, along with several other very fine violins from the son of Mario Porazzi, to whom the receipt is made out to. I have no doubts whatsoever as to the origin of the violins or the authenticity of the receipt.
Mario Porazzi worked on Wall Street in New York back in 1947. He was a student of Joseph Allegro who was a friend and collegue of Ferdinand Carri, founder of The New York Institute for Violin Playing, Piano and Vocal Culture. He was the author of Special Scales Study that was lauded when published. The violin was purchased from R.N. Chittolini, Inc., Rare Old Violins, February 19, 1947, as shown in the receipt and as per the testimony of his son who sold the violins. After Mr. Porazzi passed away in 1967, the collection was left on a series of old book shelves in his house collecting dust until recently when the family members decided to start selling his things off.

On Feb-09-16 at 15:51:59 PST, seller added the following information:

***This one, as you can see, was purchased in April, not February, of 1947, as per this receipt. Thanks. Left wrong date from other listing...sorry...

On Feb-10-16 at 21:35:38 PST, seller added the following information:

The back measures about 359-360mm. Here are some sites that show 360 as being the normal measurement for the Mariani family, if you are />On Feb-11-16 at 07:29:31 PST, seller added the following information:

In response to a person\'s question:The first link is for a Brompton listing for a \"17th Century\" Ludovico Mariani violin, another member of the family (family members usually all made violins both together and in the same way back then) and the back length is 360. The second one, you are right, is from a Mariani family member three hundred years later, in 1947. The third one is an Antonio Mariani listed in the Strad magazine with a back length of about 361, and the fourth is another Antonio Mariani whose over all length being 14 7/8 would make it\'s back length at least 360. The one I have, might be more along the lines of 360-361 even, I am using a pretty cheap tape measure to try to get the exact length in mm on a violin with a high, 17th-century type of arch, and I might be off by a mm or two, that is why I tried to give some small range \"359-360\" or maybe \"360-361\" it could be in. If I could \"guarantee\" it is authentic, I would be the only person in the world that could do that on \"any\" rare or antique violin. Not even Charles Beare can guarantee anything but people can give their best assessment and honest opinion and in my best assessment and my honest opinion, it looks to be of the proper age, it looks to have been made with the right materials, and it looks to have the right characteristics for at least the back, ribs, and scroll to be of this maker. Although the top looks to be of the era also, and seems to fit the violin perfectly, I am unsure as to why it would have double purfling and not the back, although that does not necessarily mean it is not original. Even if the top has been replaced and it is only the back, scroll, and ribs that were Mariani, it would still probably be worth at least $20,000 and up. So, either way, I believe this to be an exceptional and extremely rare violin. You judge...Thanks.

On Feb-11-16 at 07:54:59 PST, seller added the following information:

P.s.s. I hope most people offerding on this are very well educated in violins and don\'t need my opinion to make their own assessment, but for any for whom it may help, in my above revison, I do not mean to imply that the top is probably \"not\" original to this violin. To me, it looks to have the right age, craftsmanship, distortion from the post, and the right materials, and to fit perfectly to the violin both in form and feature. I believe the top to be probably original, but that is only my opinion, and you will have to judge for your self. Either way, I believe this to be an exceptionally rare and valuable violin, as it would appear Rodger Chittolini did when he sold it back in 1947. Take it for what you will. Thanks.

On Feb-11-16 at 08:58:00 PST, seller added the following information:

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