Antonio Stradivari, Latin Stradivarius, (born 1644?, Cremona, Duchy of Milan—died Dec. 18, 1737, Cremona), Italian violin maker who brought the craft of violin-making to its highest pitch of perfection.
When was Stradivarius alive?
Antonio Stradivari, Latin Stradivarius, (born 1644?, Cremona, Duchy of Milan—died Dec. 18, 1737, Cremona), Italian violin maker who brought the craft of violin-making to its highest pitch of perfection.
How much is an original Stradivarius violin worth?
Antonio Stradivari is widely considered the greatest violin maker of all time, and his instruments sell for as much as $16 million.
How long did Stradivarius live?
Antonio StradivariBornAntonius Stradivarius c. 1644 Cremona, Lombardy, Duchy of Milan (present-day Italy)Died18 December 1737 (aged 92–93) Cremona, LombardyHow many Stradivarius are left?
Only about 650 surviving Stradivarius violins exist, and many of them are in the hands of private collectors, safely hidden from public view. There are even fewer cellos, about 55, and about 12 violas.
What are Stradivarius made of?
The woods used included spruce for the top, willow for the internal blocks and linings, and maple for the back, ribs, and neck. There has been conjecture that the wood used may have been treated with several types of minerals, both before and after construction of a violin.
Is my Stradivarius real?
Though the label may look official, it is no indicator of a genuine Strad. With that kind of price tag in mind, many people who find a Stradivarius label are hopeful that they have found a real Stradivarius violin. Instead, they are likely dealing with a different instrument with its own interesting history.
Who owns the Soil Stradivarius?
A product of Stradivari’s golden period, it is considered one of his finest. The Soil was acquired by Yehudi Menuhin in 1950 and in 1986 by its current owner Itzhak Perlman, who played this instrument while recording the Cinema Serenade with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1997.How many violins did Stradivarius produce?
Violins Bearing a Stradivarius Label Stradivari also made harps, guitars, violas, and cellos–more than 1,100 instruments in all, by current estimate. About 650 of these instruments survive today.
Who owns the Messiah Stradivarius?Today, the Messiah Stradivarius was under the guardianship of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England. The violin is very close to the original condition when it left Stradivari’s workshop in 1737. Though the Messiah Stradivarius has not been auctioned publicly, it was worth an estimated US$20 million.
Article first time published onWho owns the Lady Blunt Stradivarius?
The Lady Blunt Strad was owned by Tarisio Auctions when Becker repaired it. Once it was restored, it sold for $201,000 at auction. The buyer (Robert Lowe) owned it for 30 years, after which it was acquired by the Nippon Music Foundation for $10 million.
Does Yo Yo Ma have a Stradivarius?
The Davidov Stradivarius (also: Davidoff or Davydov; Russian: Давыдов), is an antique cello made in 1712 by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari of Cremona, Italy. … Its owners have included Karl Davydov and Jacqueline du Pré, and it is currently used by cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Who owns the most expensive violin?
The Vieuxtemps Guarneri Violin This Guarneri del Gesù instrument is now the most expensive violin in the world, selling for an estimated $16million (£10.5million). Its new owner anonymously donated the historic instrument to violinist Anne Akiko Meyers on loan for the rest of her life.
Why is Stradivarius so expensive?
Supply and Demand: One reason the value of a Stradivarius violin is so dear is because there are so few of them left, and they are no longer being made. … The Quality: Musicians have long believed that the Stradivarius violin is superior to other violins in quality and sound.
Do all Stradivarius have names?
Every Stradivarius has been given a name. Some bear the name of a previous owner, such as ‘Jean-Marie Leclair’, the baroque French violinist and composer and ‘Wieniawski’ also a composer and violinist from Poland who died in 1880.
What is the most expensive Stradivarius?
The most expensive Stradivarius violin at the moment is the 1721 “Lady Blunt” Strad, which was sold to the Nippon Foundation in 2011 for $15.9 million. All proceeds went to benefit victims of the Japanese tsunami and earthquake.
How much is a Stradivarius copy worth?
Anywhere from $50 to $50,000 depending on its maker. The vast majority of violins are copies of some Stradivarius or another; most aren’t marked as such. (In fact, I suspect many violin makers don’t realize that the shapes they’re using were created by careful measurement of a Stradivarius.)
Who owns the Stradivarius violins?
The heir of a wealthy American industrial family acquired the violin in 1990, before passing it down to his then 16-year-old granddaughter Elizabeth Pitcairn, who still owns it today.
What is an Amati violin?
Amati (/əˈmɑːti/, Italian: [aˈmaːti]) is the last name of a family of Italian violin makers who lived at Cremona from about 1538 to 1740. Their importance is considered equal to those of the Bergonzi, Guarneri, and Stradivari families. Today, violins created by Nicolò Amati are valued at around $600,000.
How old is the Stradivarius?
The earliest known Stradivarius violin was made in 1666, when Stradivari was only twenty-two. Some believe that he was the apprentice of Nicolo Amati, the grandson of violin maker Andrea Amati (1511-1577).
Why do Stradivarius sound good?
Hwan-Ching Tai, an author on the study at the National Taiwan University, said Stradivari violins are often described as having “brightness” and “brilliance”, both qualities that could be rooted in the higher-frequency tones that make the instruments sound closer to female voices.
Is Stradivarius Spanish?
Stradivarius (Spanish: [estɾaðiˈβaɾjus], Catalan: [estɾaðiˈvaɾjus]) is a women’s clothing fashion brand from Barcelona owned by the Inditex group.
Is a Stradivarius really better?
Sound projection of 17th and 18th century Italian violins, notably those of Stradivarius, is often considered better than more recent violins. … The results of the study showed that on average the listeners preferred the recent instruments to the Stradivarius violins and found that they had better projection.
Are Stradivarius violins still used?
Of the more than 1,200 instruments built by Stradivari over his 60-year career, about 500 are still in circulation today. Most are violins, but there are also a few violas, cellos, guitars, mandolins, and harps.
Who is the most famous violin maker?
Bowed string instruments have been handmade since the 16th Century in Cremona, which is also the hometown of Antonio Stradivari, perhaps the greatest violin maker in history. While the workshop where Stradivari used to craft his instruments was demolished in 1934, every corner of the city speaks of him.
Are Stradivarius violin copies good?
However, even decent copies of Stradivarius could be worth serious money. So, never throw away any instrument. … There are better quality copies of Stradivarius instruments made by famous makers like Roth, Heberlein or JTL. Instruments of this caliber are highly sought after and prices are steadily rising.
What is the rarest violin in the world?
Appropriately dubbed “The Messiah,” this Stradivarius original, with an estimated value of $20 million, is currently the rarest and most valuable violin in the world.
Are there any missing Stradivarius violins?
The instrument, nicknamed the “Lamoureux-Zimbalist” after two of its former owners, is one of at least eight stolen Stradivarius violins that are still missing. … He made more than 1,100 string instruments, about 650 of which survive today.
What is the most expensive Stradivarius violin?
The highest price paid for a Stradivarius violin is $16 million (£9.5 million). A rare viola made by the Italian artisan Antonio Stradivari in 1719 that will be sold by Sotheby’s in a sealed bid auction in June is valued at $45 million (£27 million).
How much is Andre Rieu's Stradivarius violin worth?
6. Even his violin is unique. André plays an iconic Stradivarius violin worth several million euros, which he keeps with him at all times.
What is the most expensive instrument?
The most expensive musical instrument sold at auction is the ‘Lady Blunt’ Stradivarius violin and was sold at £9,808,000 ($15,875,800) by Tarisio Auctions (USA) in London, UK, on 20 June 2011.
