Valuable violin turns up OK, but many questions remain (Update)

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 12-31-2005 | Steve Rubenstein

[Cagey]

A $175,000 violin that was reported stolen turned up Friday on the steps of a San Bruno church, and San Francisco police said it was never stolen after all.

The violin, made in the 1700s by Italian craftsman Nicolo Gagliano, was recovered after a passer-by spotted it outside St. Roberts Church on Crystal Springs Road, according to police Sgt. Neville Gittens.

After the violin was turned over to San Francisco police, investigators again questioned Sabina Rhee-Nakajima, the San Francisco music student who told police Thursday that the violin had been stolen from the trunk of her car, which had been towed from a Western Addition supermarket parking lot.

Rhee-Nakajima then changed her story, Gittens said, and admitted that the violin had never been stolen and that she had filed a false police report.

Officers would not say whether Rhee-Nakajima was attempting to steal the violin or whether she would be charged with a crime. Gittens said she had not been offered leniency for its return.

The violin, along with three bows, was recovered undamaged.

The violin was on loan to Rhee-Nakajima from a music dealer who was attempting to sell it on behalf of its owner. Violin shops around the U.S. were alerted after the reported theft. Experts said it would have been extremely difficult to sell such a well-known stolen instrument or even to play it in public.

Early reports that the car towing company was involved in the violin's disappearance were also false,..........

[Cagey]

San Francisco police public affairs officer Sgt. Neville Gittens attempts to read the name of the violin inside the case of the instrument during a news conference at the Hall of Justice on Friday, Dec. 30, 2005. SF police have determined that the original report of theft, made by Sabina Rhee-Nakajima, was a false police report and that the violin was never stolen. Chronicle photo by Kat Wade

[coconutt2000]

I've always considered tow companies to be among the most evil inventions of our time... ;-)

[Cagey]

ping

[Mercat]

And what's amazing is that the bows may be as valuable as the violin. If you want to be friends with a violinist, after letting him/her talk about the instrument, ask about the bow.

[samtheman]

The violin was on loan to Rhee-Nakajima from a music dealer who was attempting to sell it on behalf of its owner.

Ok. Scale of 0 - 10.

0 = dumber than a bag of hammers
10 = Albert Einstein

So where is the music dealer on this scale?

[Lockbar]

I guess this means Nakajima won't be borrowing a violin anytime soon.

[Cagey]

I once asked a real estate agent if I could borrow an Ocean Front house for a weekend party to see if I liked it.

[Shalom Israel]

I once asked a real estate agent if I could borrow an Ocean Front house for a weekend party to see if I liked it.

My uncle once did that, successfully. The secret ingredient was a post-dated check, which he demanded back on Monday.

[csvset]

So it was stolen before it wasn't stolen?

[CatoRenasci]

Perhaps witless in his choice of musician to lend it to, but the practice of owners (whether dealers or not) of especially valuable string instruments lending them to younger up and coming players is a common one, which enables them to improve in ways ordinary instruments won't and let's them find their true voice as a performer.

Many of the Stradivarius instruments are lent either permanently or for limited periods to players.

Even with woodwinds, the practice is not unknown, especially with flutes. Truly great flutes from the first half of the 20th century (esp. Powells) have been donated to foundations specifically for the purpose of lending them to young artists.

[6SJ7]

And what's amazing is that the bows may be as valuable as the violin. If you want to be friends with a violinist, after letting him/her talk about the instrument, ask about the bow.

True! A cellist friend mentioned that 'really good' bows can be upwards of $8,000. Wow!

[Drew68]

If you want to be friends with a violinist, after letting him/her talk about the instrument, ask about the bow.

I'm sure the two pieces must compliment each other. I'm no violinist (I play guitar) but I imagine having a top of the line violin would be no good if your bow is cheap junk.

It is the same to a guitarist as the amplifier he uses.

[Drew68]

So where is the music dealer on this scale?

Probably, somehow, in on the scheme.

[samtheman]

I did not know that. Ok. I take back my aspersion on the IQ of the unnamed dealer.

[Mercat]

True! A cellist friend mentioned that 'really good' bows can be upwards of $8,000. Wow!

There are bows with as much importance as a strad. They have names, they are known by the maker, the year they were made, some are several hundred years old. I don't know a lot about the specifics but a good friend of mine is a bow luther. She mends and restrings bows. People have asked her to go to Europe to repair their bows rather than ship them here. It's a whole subculture.

[Mercat]

True! A cellist friend mentioned that 'really good' bows can be upwards of $8,000. Wow!

There are bows with as much importance as a strad. They have names, they are known by the maker, the year they were made, some are several hundred years old. I don't know a lot about the specifics but a good friend of mine is a bow luther. She mends and restrings bows. People have asked her to go to Europe to repair their bows rather than ship them here. It's a whole subculture. rats, I keep forgetting how to turn off italics.

[AnAmericanMother]

What's more, even with lesser instruments, dealers make a practice of loaning out to prospective purchasers/ young students.

You simply can't try out a violin "in the shop" and make a decision about whether it's the right one for you.

When my daughter bought her "real" violin - moving up from the cheap beginners' instruments - the dealer helped her choose three likely prospects in our price range (and bows that went well with them - another whole story!) Then she took all three home. Played them in our living room, in the school concert hall, the school rehearsal room, with the school orchestra, etc. etc. etc. Found the one she liked, we sent the others back, and paid the nice dealer < shudder! >

[Cheburashka]

The streetlamps are on in Chicago tonight,
And lovers a'gazin' at stars;
The stores are all closin', and Daley is dozin',
And the fat man is counting the cars...
And there's more cars than places to put 'em, he says,
But I've got room for them all;
So 'round 'em up boys, 'cause I want some more toys,
In the lot by the grocery store...

Chorus
To me, way, hey, tow them away,
The Lincoln Park Pirates are we,
From Wilmette to Gary, there's nothin' so hairy
And we always collect our fee!
So it's way, hey, tow 'em away,
We plunder the streets of your town,
Be it Edsel or Chevy, there's no car too heavy,
And no one can make us shut down.

We break into cars when we gotta,
With hammer and pickaxe and saw;
And they said this garage had no license;
But little care I for the law!
Our drivers are friendly and courteous;
Their good manners you always will get;
'Cause they all are recent graduates
Of the charm school in Joliet.

To me, way, hey, tow them away,
The Lincoln Park Pirates are we,
From Wilmette to Gary, there's nothin' so hairy
And we always collect our fee!
So it's way, hey, tow 'em away,
We plunder the streets of your town,
Be it Edsel or Chevy, there's no car too heavy,
And no one can make us shut down.

And when all the cars are collected,
And all of their fenders are ruined,
Then I'll tow all the boats in Belmont Harbor
To the Lincoln Park Lagoon;
And when I've collected the ransom,
And sunk all the ones that won't yield;
I'll tow all the planes that are blocking the runways
At Midway, O'Hare, and Meigs Field!

To me, way, hey, tow them away,
The Lincoln Park Pirates are we,
From Wilmette to Gary, there's nothin' so hairy
And we always collect our fee!
So it's way, hey, tow 'em away,
Now citizens, gather around,
And I think it's enough, let's call his bluff,
Let's throw the bum out of town! R.I.P. Steve Goodman

[GOP_Proud]

< If you want to be friends with a violinist, after letting him/her talk about the instrument, ask about the bow. >

My bow...or my life? That's a difficult question. LOL.

You are so right.

[Cagey]

R.I.P. Steve Goodman

Indeed. I've wondered how many songs we missed having.