Fakes and misattributions in the violin world: quick facts

The fame and value of Stradivari and other great makers have produced an enormous number of fakes and misattributions. Many honest copies carry a Stradivari label simply to indicate the model, while others were made or relabelled to deceive. Even genuine old Italian instruments are sometimes wrongly attributed, and scholarship can shift an instrument from one maker to another over time, as happened with works by Goffriller and others. Because a name can change an instrument's worth by a huge margin, expert examination and trusted certificates are essential. For buyers, the lesson is that the label means little on its own; sound attribution by recognised authorities, backed by provenance and science, is what protects against costly mistakes.

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Sources: Tarisio — Cozio Archive of stringed instruments; Library of Congress — Stradivari instruments / Whittall Collection; The Metropolitan Museum of Art — musical instruments collection. Educational information only — not financial, investment, or appraisal advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.