Philip J. Kass

Philip J. Kass is a respected expert, appraiser, consultant and writer on fine classic stringed instruments and bows. From 1977 until 2002, he was an associate of William Moennig & Son, Ltd. of Philadelphia, where he handled many of the world's great stringed instruments. His training in expertise came from William Moennig III, William Moennig Jr., and Dario D'Attili, and this he supplemented through his own independent travels, inquiries and explorations.

Mr. Kass has published numerous articles in The Strad and the Journal of the Violin Society of America as well as in other periodicals such as Smithsonian and Strings. He has prepared numerous entries for both the previous and current editions of the New Grove's Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians. Many of these have been based upon his own original research into English and French bow making and the violin makers of Piedmont, Cremona, and the Amati family. He was also a contributing author to The British Violin, published by the British Violin Makers Association. He has spoken on these and other topics on numerous occasions for the Violin Society of America, The American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, and the British Violin Makers Association. 

A member of the Violin Society of America since 1975, Mr. Kass has served on its Board of Directors since 1976 and as Vice President since 1985. He served as President from 1997 until the beginning of 1999.

Today, Mr. Kass serves as an independent expert who provides his clients with objective advice concerning their instruments of interest - whether that be in purchasing, selling, or assigning values for estate, insurance or legal purposes. He neither buys nor sells instruments for his own commercial profit, nor does he accept any commissions from dealers who do buy and sell instruments. His only client is the client, to whom he gives unbiased, professional advice.