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James Dean's Childhood Violin

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia Start Price:1,600.00 USD Estimated At:6,400.00 - 9,600.00 USD
James Dean's Childhood Violin
<B>James Dean's Violin.</B></I> Dean's mother, Mildred, had every intention of making her son an artistic child, slightly more cultured than those around him. Mildred borrowed a violin for James when he was a small boy, and sent him off for lessons regularly. She read him a great deal of poetry, and as they spent so much time together, the boy developed a particularly strong sense of attachment to his mother. When she died from terminal cancer in 1940, it had a devastating effect on the boy; as he later recalled: "My mother died when I was eight. The violin was buried too." This handsome violin was obtained from Clyde Glessner, who had owned it since 1945 (It had been in the family since 1880). Clyde's mother and Dean's grandfather, Johnny Wilson, were cousins, and Wilson borrowed the violin so that Dean could take lessons. Made in Germany in 1877, the violin is in Very Fine condition with moderate scraping and scuffing to the finish but no actual body damage, and comes in a hard carrying case that is also in Very Fine condition with very light wear. A very unique and special item. <I>From the James Dean Museum archive.</B></I> <BR><BR><B>Important notice:<