Machold Rare Violins controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2012
Austrian conviction
An Austrian court convicted Dietmar Machold of embezzlement and fraud in November 2012 and sentenced him to six years in prison.
2011
International fraud complaints and arrest
Dozens of criminal complaints were reported across several countries. Machold was arrested in Switzerland in March 2011 and faced allegations including embezzlement and major commercial fraud.
2010
Collateral and authenticity investigation
The business came under investigation after instruments represented as Stradivarius violins were offered as collateral for multimillion-dollar loans. Specialist examination reportedly disputed the attribution and suggested that the instruments' wood was inconsistent with Stradivari's period and known source region.
2010
Questions over consigned instruments and duplicated collateral
Investigators examined cases in which consigned instruments appeared in collateral arrangements, instruments allegedly belonging to other parties were supplied to lenders, and the same valuable instrument was reportedly used in overlapping financial transactions. Machold was also reported to have admitted duplicating certificates for violins.