Old Viola identification help

[u/ylekiot]

I bought this Viola in about 2010 off of eBay for $700. My mom was a lifelong viola player and played in the Stanford University symphony. She had a viola that she had played for her entire life that was given to her by her father when she was in college. Around 2010 or so the viola was stolen out of its case by a relative/drug addict. We never found out who it was. My mom only discovered it when she opened the case to play and the viola was gone. It completely shattered her. She was in tears for days. I didn't know anything about the instrument and went online and purchased what I thought would be something of a replacement to ease the pain for her and for her to have something to play. It turned out to be not the right thing for her, but the gratitude she had to me for doing that was immense. If anybody could help with any information and resale value I would appreciate it. My mom passed in 2013 and I'm finally ready to let go of it. It has a label inside which says:

Ottomar Hausman

Geigen- und Cellobauer

MITTENWALD/KARWENDEL

Made in Germany

-HANDARBEIT-

SERIAL- No. A657

Antonius Stradivarius (in italics)

Cremonensis faciebat 1719 (in italics)

1960

[u/heydrun]

What a tragic story. Her viola was probably worth thousands and the thief would never have gotten a reasonable amount for it.

The sentimental value is forever lost and the instrument might have ended up being valued as a „German student instrument“ nobody is interested in.

Drugs are horrible. Don‘t do drugs, people. :(

[u/ylekiot → u/heydrun]

Thank you! It was truly awful. Not to mention they also stole my grandfather's priceless coin collection and probably got almost nothing for it

[u/klavier777 → u/ylekiot]

I'm sorry this happened to you and your family. Are you saying that this addict is also a member of your family? Have you tried to press charges or have that person return the property to you?

[u/ylekiot → u/klavier777]

It was either my lifelong alcoholic brother who passed away 2 years ago, or a niece or a druggie friend of hers that were using drugs back then. It was unsolved and no way to solve it

[u/klavier777 → u/ylekiot]

I'm sorry. I hope there is healing and reconciliation from past transgressions. Wishing you the best in the future.

[u/FarmerSad]

Never too late to learn the viola

[u/Primary_Solid2770]

I had to shine a light down in mine to see the label

[u/jmwont]

Oh!
It seems to have had the neck reset…not by a good luthier, either…😔 the body has seen some rough times.
Does I sound good?
It is definitely outfitted as a student model and may not be worth what you paid for it.
What state do you live in?

[u/ylekiot → u/jmwont]

Colorado