Carlo Bergonzi I, Cremona, 1733, the 'Tschudi, Martzy, Salabue, Tarisio'
Violin: 40685
Labeled, "Anno 1733 Carlo Bergonzi fece in Cremona."
Read Jason Price's Carteggio feature on this violin.
Back: in one piece of quarter cut maple with broad-width flame ascending from the treble side.
Top: in two pieces of spruce with narrow-width grain broadening toward the egdes.
Scroll: of plainer maple.
Ribs: of similar wood.
Varnish: of a red orange-brown color.
Length of back: 35.3 cm
Upper bouts: 16.7 cm
Middle bouts: 10.7 cm
Lower bouts: 20.5 cm
There are 11 additional images in the archive which are not available publicly. Please contact us for more information.
Notes:
"In the illustrated booklet he lovingly published on the Bergonzi in 1942 (150 numbered copies), Daniel states that it was ’acknowledged as the finest example known’. Indeed it was one of the famed Luigi Tarisio’s six favorite violins, bought by Vuillaume in 1854."Count Cozio's notes, June 1801: "Description: one-piece back, wide and even grain. The sides are also made of the same wood. Reinforced button that is two-thirds of a circle. The neck is of good work. The scroll is well carved on the front and fluted in the back, but it is pushed backwards too much so that it seems deformed. It is worth noting that both this and the other instruments have a longer neck than compared to Stradivari's. The sides are also higher near the neck and in back. This differs from the style of Stradivari and Amati. The neck is too raised and a little difficult to play. The scroll shape is defective. [. . .] transparent oil red varnish, like Stradivari's. [. . .] . Neck and pegs are still in the old style, and the neck is longer than in Stradivari's. Large model with well made F-holes in Stradivari's style, but not fluted in the lower part. Good craftsmanship, except for the four corners which are too sharp and have edges. Low arching. The sides have little curve near the neck and back. This is one of the best instruments by this maker. It is worth at least 36 zecchini. On June 1801,1 asked Mantegazza to raise the neck, to take out some linings that have worm holes and put in a new veneered fingerboard. I have also asked to take away some of the deformities of the risvolto at the bottom." (p. 216)
Memoirs of a Violin Collector: Count Ignazio Alessandro Cozio di Salabue, Memoirs of a Violin Collector: Count Ignazio Alessandro Cozio di Salabue, Baltimore
Cozio's Notes, May 30, 1816: "Measurements of my largest and best violin made by Carlo Bergonzi in 1733, to which I made the four long curves smoother. Measurements taken by the compass including the outline, as above. Purfling is quite thin. One-piece back. Beautiful grain. The strongest that I have owned and that I have ever heard. The black line of purfling should be in paper. . . ." (p. 240)
Memoirs of a Violin Collector: Count Ignazio Alessandro Cozio di Salabue, Memoirs of a Violin Collector: Count Ignazio Alessandro Cozio di Salabue, Baltimore
Provenance
| until 1776 | Giovanni Battista Cabrinetti |
| 1776-1840 | Count Ignazio Alessandro Cozio di Salabue |
| 1840-1841 | Countess Matilde Cozio di Salabue |
| 1841-1854 | Luigi Tarisio |
| from 1855 | Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume |
| from c. 1860 | Hugo Wehrle |
| until c. 1904 | Julius Schloming |
| in 1904 | Carl Hermann Voigt |
| ... | ... |
| from 1904 and in 1920 | Baron Alfred von Liebieg |
| ... | ... |
| in c. 1935 | Sold by Albert Caressa |
| until 1936 | Hug & Co. |
| ... | ... |
| from 1936 and in 1949 | Daniel Tschudi |
| until 1979 | Johanna Martzy |
| in c. 1979 | Sabina Tschudi |
| in c. 1979 | Sold by Pierre Gerber |
| c. 1979-c. 1992 | Swiss Foundation |
| in 1992 | Sold by John & Arthur Beare |
| 1992-2011 | Anonymous |
| in 2011 | Sold by John & Arthur Beare |
| 2011-2022 | Anonymous |
| in 2022 | Sold by Tarisio Private Sales |
| from 2022 | Current owner |
Known players
Johanna Martzy, Julius Schloming
Certificates & Documents
Certificate: Tarisio, New York, NY (2022)- Dendrochronology report: Peter Ratcliff, London (2022) Dates the latest ring of the bass and treble side as 1721 and 1720, respectively. Printed report available for purchase upon request.
- Certificate: John & Arthur Beare, London (2011)
- Certificate: Hug & Co., Zurich (1936)
Cozio holds copies of many certificates and other documents, some of which are available to view on request. Please contact us if you wish to view a particular document. (Note that we do not always have permission to share documents.)
References
Antonius Stradivarius (Balfoort), Dirk J. Balfoort, The Continental Book Company, Stockholm (illustrated)- Carlo Bergonzi of Cremona - Part VI
- Carlo Bergonzi Violin 1733, Eric Blot, Eric Blot Edizioni, Cremona (illustrated)
- Carlo Bergonzi: A Cremonese Master Unveiled (supplement to The Strad, June, 2010), Christopher Reuning, editor, Consorzio Liutai Antonio Stradivari, Cremona (illustrated)
Cubic Circle home page- Meister Italienischer Geigenbaukunst (8th Edition), Hamma & Co., Florian Noetzel Verlag, Wilhelmshaven (illustrated)
- Memoirs of a Violin Collector: Count Ignazio Alessandro Cozio di Salabue, Brandon Frazier, Baltimore
- Violins & Violinists (1969), Franz Farga, Frederick A Prager, New York (illustrated)
- W. E. Hill & Sons Photographic Archive (illustrated)