How to Date a Violin

By Society & Culture & Entertainment Last updated Monday, June/17/2024

1). Locate the manufacturer's label on your violin. The label is usually made of paper and is glued to the back of the violin's body. You can see it by looking through the F-holes on the top of the violin's body. An older label can be difficult to read. Make sure you're in a well-lit room. Having a flashlight on hand is also a good idea.
2). Read the various elements of the label. Look for any of these words: "faciebat," "fecit," "me fecit" or "fece." These words can be translated to mean "made by." This will tell you who made the instrument, which can help give some indication of the date.
3). Look for the word "anno," which can be translated to mean "in the year of." Not all violins will have this, especially newer models and copies of classic violins. If you see the term "anno," the date following it is the year the violin was made. If this word is on the label of your violin, there's a good chance you have a violin worth some money or of some quality.

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