Good English violin by and labelled Made by Bert Smith, 'Eas...

Hammer

£1,400

Good English violin by and labelled Made by Bert Smith, 'East View', Coniston, Lancs. 1961, the two piece back of faint medium curl with similar wood to the sides and head, the table of a fine width grain and the varnish of a light reddish-brown colour on a golden ground, 13 15/16", 35.40cm, with two nickel mounted carbon fibre bows and good Master Series Musafia plush lined oblong case
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** This violin is sold with several receipts and correspondence including a Bonhams purchase invoice receipt for £1131.60 when sold by them on 15th December 2009 and a retail purchase receipt for the Musafia case for 1152.71 Euros.
There is also a handwritten letter from Bert Smith the maker to the original owners which mentions a television programme made about himself, after which he received 'Close to one hundred letters...from which I could easily book orders for the rest of my life'; also several other letters and newspaper cuttings etc