He was compelled, by an expertise market imperative, to opine, almost immediately, what a particular item for scrutiny is.
His attributions, generally, aren't worth the scrap of paper they were written on.
His certificates 'flooded the market', bubbled, so to speak, the market, not that there wasn't, already, a surfeit of fraud.
Dario was fairly familiar with the old Cremonese masters; after that he was as lost as a leaf flying in the wind.
ReplyDeleteBut he was right, during our last telephone conversation, when he said to me: "The violin will speak for itself."
NB: John Thornton is a violin dealing con-man who has been exposed in and banned from every significant violin forum online.
ReplyDeleteGreat comment on John. Bless his heart.
DeleteI have bought MULTIPLE violins from John Thornton.
ReplyDeleteHe's never screwed me once, and his prices were fair.
I play his violins (one labeled 1719 Stradivarius, another labeled 1717 Guarnerius) professionally. His violins, I prefer them over all others for their tonal quality.
So you know, I'm not some clueless fanboy. I'm a real honest to God Julliard trained PRO who's a successful gigging violinist in Phoenix AZ. I make a living on John's violins. Nobody can take that away from me - or his instruments.
Good for you, KHuang!
ReplyDeletePeople love this old post.
ReplyDeleteTake a look at the wild and whacky world of dendrochronology. That will mess with your heads!
Boomerbuster