The Hopf name is stamped on a vast number of undistinguished violins, an inestimable quantity of which are unauthentic. Any violin so marked should be viewed skeptically until confirmed by a recognized expert.

Dictionaries of violin makers list as many as eighteen makers by this name. The most celebrated among them are Caspar (1650-1711) and David (1762-86), both of whom lived in Klingenthal, Germany. While there are some minor variations amongst members of the Hopf family, all of them used the same design (dubbed the "Hopf model").

Other violin makers and violin making families: Amati, Bergonzi, da Salo, Duiffopruggar, Gagliano, Glass, Guarneri, Klotz, Maggini, Ruggieri, Stainer, Stradivarius, Vuillaume

Authentication and Appraisal of Violins

Prepared by the Division of Music, Sports and Entertainment
in cooperation with the Public Inquiry Mail
Service, Smithsonian Institution

PIMS/Mus24/rev. 8/97

NOTE: This publication can be made available in Braille or audio cassette. To obtain a copy in one of these formats, please call or write :
Smithsonian Information
PO Box 37012
SI Building, Room 153, MRC 010
Washington, DC 20013-7012
202.633.1000 (voice); 202.633.5285 (TTY)
e-mail: info@si.edu
(Please provide postal address.)