Preservation and Maintenance of Instruments
At the 20th anniversary in 1994, Nippon Music Foundation started to acquire top quality stringed instruments such as those made by Antonio Stradivari and Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri (Guarneri del Gesu) to launch the "Instrument Loan Project" as the main pillar of activities. The important requirements when purchasing instruments are:
- 1．
- the instrument is in an excellent condition and suitable for concert activities
- 2．
- the instrument is recognized to be the world's cultural asset
- 3．
- the instrument has a good provenance and is confirmed genuine
- 4．
- the price of the instrument is fair and in line with the market price
By loaning such instruments acquired by the Foundation, the Foundation offers the opportunities for many people around the world to enjoy the timbre of these instruments. As the custodian of these world cultural assets which are about 300 years old, the Foundation assumes all the costs of repair and maintenance to preserve them in the best possible condition for future generations. The following are the policies regarding the necessary repair and maintenance.
- 1．
- The Foundation requires the recipient to take the instrument to the Foundation's designated instrument dealers every three months for its condition check.
- 2．
- The Foundation requires the instrument to be checked once a year by Mr. Roland Baumgartner, the Foundation's instrument advisor. By checking with the same eyes every year, the Foundation constantly monitors the condition of each instrument.
- 3．
- The Foundation asks the dealers to directly send the condition reports and its invoice specifying details of the repair and maintenance, and keeps them as the important history.
- 4．
- The Foundation provides the recipient with thorough written instructions for taking proper care of the instrument. The Foundation prohibits the recipient from taking the instrument into disputed areas as well as environments that could be harmful to the instrument such as excess humidity and temperature.
- 5．
- The Foundation may terminate the loan in case the above-mentioned condition checks reveal the recipient's negligence in taking proper care of the instrument.
