Famous Violins
15 - Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737)
The "Ernst, Lady Halle" (Made in: 1709)
This instrument was imported to England by Andrew Fountaine who gave it, in about the year 1850, to the great virtuoso Heinrich Ernst. In 1875, after Ernst’s death, it was purchased by the Duke of Edinburgh and presented to another great virtuoso, Lady Halle (Madame Wilma Neruda Norman). It was in the possession of Mr. William Kroll, before being sold in 2019.
14 - Bartolomeo Giuseppe "del Gesù" Guarneri (1698-1744)
The "Gibson, Huberman" (Made in: 1731)
This famous concert violin has passed through the hands of many famous players as well as amateurs. It was first known in the hands of an officer of the bank of England and later owned by the English player Alfred Gibson. Eventually it came into the hands of the great Polish virtuoso Bronislaw Huberman and its voice was heard in all the great concert halls of the world. The last famous owner of it has been the virtuoso Ruggiero Ricci.
13 - Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737)
The "Joachim" (Made in: 1714)
One of the at least eight Stradivaruses owned by the famous quartet player, Joseph Joachim, which was acquired in 1849. It has since been in the hands of various private owners, including Hugh W. Long and Si-Hon Ma.
12 - Bartolomeo Giuseppe "del Gesù" Guarneri (1698-1744)
The "Ex Vieuxtemps" (Made in: 1739)
One of several fine del Gesus owned by this violinist. It later was owned by the English-Italian player Guido Papini, and after passing through the collections of the Duc de Camposelice and other well-known amateurs, it eventually came to this country and is now in the possession of Mr. Hugh W. Long.
11 - Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737)
The "Madrileno" (Made in: 1720)
A beautifully preserved example from Madrid where it had been in private hands for many years. The most famous violinist playing this instrument has been Rimma Sushanskaya.
It is now in the possession of Mr. Rembert Wurlitzer.
10 - Bartolomeo Giuseppe "del Gesù" Guarneri (1698-1744)
The "De beriot" (Made in: 1744)
A characteristic example of the last year of Guarneri’s life, rough in its exterior appearance and workmanship, but with dramatically rich tone. This violin was owned by the Belgian violinist and composer Charles Deberiot. He sold it during the latter part of his life to a French violinist and it has remained in that family’s hands to this day.
9 - Carlo Bergonzi (1683-1747)
The "Constable, Casavetti" (Made in: 1731)
Carlo Bergonzi followed more nearly the style of the Guarneris than that of Stradivari and was probably trained in the shop of Giuseppe Guarneri, son of Andrea. This beautiful example takes its name from its early English owner, Sir Clifford Constable. After passing through various other English owners, such as Alexander Casavetti, it came into hands of other owners like Hugh W. Long and Herbert G. Schick.
8 - Gasparo da Salò (1542-1609)
(Made in: c. 1570-80)
Violins by this maker are extremely rare, and this is probably the best known example of the maker who was born in 1540 and died about 1600. This instrument was for many years in the possession of Wilhelm Kux of viena, and is now owned by Mr. Hugh w. Long.
7 - Bartolomeo Giuseppe "del Gesù" Guarneri (1698-1744)
The "Lafont" (Made in: 1736)
The early French virtuoso Charles Lafont was the first owner on record, in the beginning of the last century. In later years it came into the possession of Adolf Brodsky who, it was said, played the first performance of the Tchaikovsky Concerto on this magnificent violin. Thereafter it was owned by various owners, such as Jack Marlin and Nigel Kennedy.
6 - Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737)
The "Spanish" (Made in: 1677)
A rare example of the early period of Stradivari’s work and one of the few examples with decorative inlay of ebony and ivory. This famous violin was in the possession of Ole Bull, the famous Norwegian violinist, during the first part of the 19 the century. Later it was the concert violin of Paul Kochanski. It has often been called the “Spanish”, probably because it has been confused with similar decorated instruments made by Stradivari for the Spanish Court. The date has often been mis-read as 1688. It is now in the possession of Dr. Donald W. Haff.
5 - Bartolomeo Giuseppe "del Gesù" Guarneri (1698-1744)
The "Ploweden" (Made in: 1735)
Certainly one of the most beautiful “del Gesu’s” in existence. It takes its name from the well-known English amateur player, C. H. Chichele Plowden, who also owned three other fabulous Guarneri’s and four Stradivari’s. It was later in the possession of another famous amateur, Louis D’Egville and still later in two other famous collections, those of Baron Johann Knoop and Richard Bennett. William Rosenwald and John & Arthur Beare have been among the last owners of this instrument.
4 - Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737)
The "Monastrio" (Made in: 1719)
It takes its name from the famous violinist Jesus de Monasterio (1836-1903), who used it as his concert instrument. It is built on a slightly narrower model than the “Joachim”. During the past century it was passed through the hands of many, Alexander Mackay Smith and Cyril W. Jacklin being the latest ones.
3 - Nicola Amati (1596-1684)
The "King Louis XIV" (Made in: 1656)
Nicolo Amati, son of Hieronymus and grandson of Andre, was born in 1596 and died in Cremona 1684. This instrument, one of the rare decorated examples of his work, was made for the Court of France at the time of King Louis XIV. It also disappeared for a time during the French Revolution, and was mentioned shortly after by one of the early writers on violins who stated that its only flaw was that he did not personally own it. It was sold to a Russian nobleman, Prince Nicholas Yusupov, and after surviving the Russian Revolution it came into the possession of many until today that it is owned by Smithsonian Institution Museum.
2 - Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737)
The "Rode" (Made in: 1733)
One of the two great Stradivaris owned by the famous French player, Pierre Rode. The date 1733 has been partly effaced, but under it in Stradivari’s own hand is written “made at the age of 89”. It was later in the possession of the French virtuoso Johann L’Eveque, and came to this country in the early part of this century. It is now owned by Mr. Jerry Castellone.
1 - Andrea Amati (1505-1577)
The "Charles IX of France" (Made in: c. 1560-70)
This instrument, considered as one the latest custom-made violins at that time, has been made by the order of the ninth Charles who was the king of France.
The royal blazon as well as an inlay phrase on the following theme, has been carved on the back of this violin.
PIETATE ET JUSTITIA UNICO PROPUGNO
With piety and justice I go forth unarmed
Nobody knows what happened to it during the second world war, but once identified, it was sent to Great Britain and today it is owned by Museo del Violino in Cremona.
