Does the spelling of "Joseph" Guarnerius as "josef" mean that it is a copy?

Question

I have my grandmothers violin, and her father owned it before that.

the inside marking says

josef Guarnerius Fecit Cremonae anno 1725

with an IHS and an upside down cross above it.

does the mis-spelling of Joseph mean that it is a copy?

Answer 1

I don't think so. After all, Guarneri was Italian, and the family name is often spelled 'Guarnerius', which suggests fudging of the spelling a bit to suit regional spelling.

The 'Josef' in question is probably Giuseppe 'Del Gesu' Guarneri, the greatest of the Guarneri family of violin-makers. The wikipedia article below mentions the I.H.S. and cross. There is nothing out of place with the year. However, you probably need an expert opinion to determine if it is genuine.

Answer 2

Not necessarily. It shouldn't be because it is in a different language (i'm guessing latin because of the "anno") but it's like...Roberto to Robert. I believe "josef" is Russian (well sounds it). Otherwise, it shouldn't be a fake