$100K Violin Stolen

By Alexander Hough in News on Jul 9, 2009 6:20PM

Local violinist Lori Ashikawa had her rare 18th century violin, two bows, and a case stolen from her home near the corner of N. Wayne and W. Foster on Monday night. The burglar used a key hidden in a planter outside the door - by the way, as soon as you're home, you should change where you're hiding your spare key - and crept up a couple flights of stairs to steal the violin, all while Ashikawa and her husband slept, which gives us the willies to think about.

The instrument, made in 1763 by Gennaro Gagliano, is valued at approximately $100,000, which is actually not atypical of the cost of a violin a professional would use. The bows are each worth about $15,000. Barring an incredible story involving an inside job (which has actually happened before), the thief is either a crafty musician or, more likely, someone who's going to just sell it to a pawn shop. Nothing else was stolen, so it's pretty clear it was a targeted theft.

CBS included a description of the stolen goods:

The back of the violin features a large black inlaid fleur de lis-like geometric design. The chin crest is brown, with a round red sponge shoulder rest attached with a rubber band, police said.

The burglar also stole two bows. The first was made by Emile Ouchard and dated from between 1930 and 1935. It has leather wrapping at its frog, or nut, and may or may not have the name "Ouchard" stamped on the wood at the frog.

The second bow was made by H.R. Pfretzschner, and has an octagonal stick. The manufacturer's name is stamped on the wood at the bow's frog, and the date is unknown, police said.

Also stolen was a Bobelock rectangular violin case measuring 31 inches by 11 inches by 6 inches, with a maroon interior and a maroon blanket inside, police said.

Keep your eyes peeled. If you have any leads, give the CPD's Area 3 detectives a call at (312) 744-8263.

Ashikawa has played with a variety of groups, including the Goodman and Steppenwolf theaters, Baroque Band, Led Zeppelin, and Elvis Costello, and her husband, Michael Hovnanian, plays bass with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. If Ashikawa doesn't seem too bent out of shape, it's probably because the CSO provides an insurance policy that covers both of their instruments. [Sun-Times, CBS, Tribune]