Ex - Geraldine O’Grady
Labeled, "Carlo Giuseppe Testore in Contrada Larga di Milano al Segno dell' Aquila 1706."
Branded to the button.
LOB: 35.6 cm
Irish listeners will know the sound of this violin as the “sound of Sunday mornings” in Ireland, owing to its long association with the RTÉ radio programme Mo Cheol Thú. For over thirty-five years, the broadcast opened each week with Geraldine O’Grady’s recording of “The Lark in the Clear Air,” performed on this very instrument—its tone becoming a familiar and deeply embedded part of the country’s cultural routine.A fine and characteristic example of Carlo Giuseppe Testore’s work, this violin was made in Milan circa 1706. Carlo Giuseppe, a pupil of Giovanni Grancino, is widely considered the finest craftsman of the Testore dynasty, combining robust construction, wide upper and lower bouts and low arching.
The instrument retains a plentiful golden-brown varnish over a lighter ground, typical of the Milanese school, and is prized by musicians for its responsive handling and versatility across a wide repertoire. It was sold by W. E. Hill & Sons in both 1941 and 1964, although their original certificates have since been lost. Born in 1932, Ms. O’Grady studied with Jean Fournier at the Conservatoire de Paris, graduating in 1955. Ms. O’Grady died in 2025, and the violin subsequently passed to her daughter—herself a violinist—who now offers it for sale.
Proforma Certificate: Jason Price, New York, NY (Apr 22 2026)- Dendrochronology report: Sondre Lie, Oslo (Mar 12 2026) This item underwent dendrochronology testing. No result was found.
- Certificate: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (Aug 17 1964) This documents has been lost and is no longer available
- Certificate: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (Jan 1 1941) This document has been lost and is no longer available
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Ending on May 7 at
5:08 PM Berlin / 4:08 PM London / 11:08 AM New York
Estimate:
€150,000–220,000
Bidding opens Apr 28, 2026 11:00 AM CEST
VAT symbols on Description:
Ω - TI - non-antique - additional 19% import VAT charged on the hammer
‡ - TI - antique - additional 19% import VAT charged on the hammer
† - Normal VAT rules - 19% VAT charged on hammer and premium
No Symbol - Margin Scheme - 19% VAT-in-lieu charged on the premium (except when exported within 3 months)
VAT refunds are available for export sales
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