question regarding old violin

photo 1 by mark peters posted Jan 26, 2026 at 9:38 PM

photo 2 by mark peters posted Jan 26, 2026 at 9:38 PM

photo 3 by mark peters posted Jan 26, 2026 at 9:38 PM

photo 4 by mark peters posted Jan 26, 2026 at 9:38 PM

photo 5 by mark peters posted Jan 26, 2026 at 9:38 PM

Hi there,

This is my first post on the forum, apologies in advance if this is not the right place but I could not find a sub-forum for instruments.

Can you please let know what your estimation is of the year this violin was built, the quality of the wood and possibly the monerary value?

much appreciated,

Mark

 

German makers, does the inner label say 1869?
I would take it to a violin specialist.
Did it come with a bow? They can often be worth more than the violin.

 

Looks like a better than average violin, and this could be one case where the label is legitimate. You really need to have it inspected in-hand by an expert.

 

Maker: Gebrüder Placht
Quick googling indicates they were established in 1870, but your violin's label says 1860-something...?

 

Placht Brothers in English. Pest is half of Budapest, which was two cities before the Chain Bridge went in. From one source in the Eurozone, they were a big outfit who opened in the 1820s and made instruments in both Vienna and Budapest. This dates before 1873 when the company started using Budapest on its labels. That fits with the 1860-something on the label. I'm no violin expert, but the value of a violin is in how it sounds rather than the age.

 

They produced instruments of "various grades" so definitely worth getting an expert opinion.

 

Hi, thank you! the label appears to state '186y'

 

Thank you! The label appears to state '186y'. I added a picture of the bow and case in the album but it does not show up in the post.