Odessa customs officers prevented the export from Ukraine of an antique violin, signed with the name of the famous master Antonio Stradivari, but dated the year after his death – 1742.
“An ancient violin of the genius master tried to take out a citizen of Ukraine, which through the checkpoint “Orlovka” was going to Bulgaria in a car. Despite the presence of a musical instrument with signs of antiquity, he chose the “green corridor” to pass customs control,” the press service of the State Customs Service of Ukraine reported on Friday.
According to the press service, the man also confirmed the absence of goods and items subject to written declaration and taxation of customs payments during oral questioning.
“Based on a risk assessment and analysis, the car was transferred to the “red corridor.” The suspicions of the customs officers were justified: in the luggage compartment, among various packages and suitcases, at the very bottom in a cardboard box was found a case with a violin. On the bottom deck (back – IF-U) of the musical instrument – inscription “ANTONIUS STRADIUARIUS CREMONENSIS FACIBAT ANNO 1742”, – details of detention are given in the message.
The case also contained a bow and a set of strings. No documents authorizing their export from Ukraine were found with the citizen.
According to the violation of customs regulations, made by Odessa customs officers on the grounds of part 1 of Art. 483 of the Customs Code of Ukraine, a musical instrument with signs of antiquity, a bow and a set of strings seized.
Their value and cost will be determined by the appropriate expertise, and their further fate – the court.
Activities were carried out by Odessa customs officers in cooperation with border guards and representatives of the SSU in the Odessa region.
Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737) – unsurpassed master of making bowed instruments. There are about 650 survived Stradivari’s instruments including about 450 violins.
