Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1726, the 'Sleeping Beauty'
Violin: 40135
Bearing its original label, "Antonius Stradiuarius Cremonensis, Faciebat Anno 1726 AS."
Back: One-piece back of narrow horizontal curl; with original wings
Top: of fine grain in the centre opening out towards the flanks
Scroll: plain
Ribs: similar to back
Varnish: rich golden-brown
Length of back: 35.5 cm
Upper bouts: 16.8 cm
Middle bouts: 10.75 cm
Lower bouts: 20.8 cm
There are 18 additional images in the archive which are not available publicly. Please contact us for more information.
Notes:
Sold with the certificate of W.E. Hill & Sons, dated 30th December 1950, in which the violin is described as resembling the "Milanollo" of 1728; together with a letter from W.E. Hill & Sons of the same date, giving the history of the violin and stating that it had been "...loaned to the well-known player Ida Haendel who had hoped to acquire the instrument owing to its outstanding tonal qualities". Also accompanied by a letter from W.E. Hill & Sons, dated 13th July 1984, confirming the contents of the earlier documents and noting that the condition of the instrument had not changed in the intervening period.The instrument is also sold with a dendrochronological analysis by John C. Topham, Redhill, dated 18th September 2002. This states that the youngest tree-rings measured on the front of the violin date from 1721 (bass side) and 1717 (treble side). It further notes that both pieces significantly cross-match a variety of fronts from other violins made by Antonio Stradivari.
Christie's Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, November 13, 2002, London, Christie's, Christie's Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, November 13, 2002, London, London
"...the name 'Sleeping Beauty' is quite a recent epithet, which the violin only acquired in 2002 when the Times of London dubbed it that. The Times' lead was followed by other European press and by the auction house Christie's." – Alessandra Barabaschi
Antonius Stradivarius (Volumes I-IV), Jost Thöne, Jan Röhrmann, Alessandra Barabaschi, Jost Thöne, Jan Röhrmann, Alessandra Barabaschi, Antonius Stradivarius (Volumes I-IV), Cologne
Provenance
| Lord Newlands | |
| Robert Augustus Bower | |
| Royal College of Music, London | |
| in 1850 | Sold by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume |
| ... | ... |
| in 1878 | Sold by David Laurie |
| until 1882 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
| from 1882 | Hon. James H. Cecil Hozier MP |
| until 1888 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
| from 1888 | W. Paton |
| until 1951 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
| from 1951 | J. A. Billmeir |
| in 1973 | Sold by Christie's |
| from 1973 | Murdoch |
| in 1984 | Hyung Hoon Sun |
| ... | ... |
| in 2002 | Sold by Christie's |
| from 2002 | Current owner |
Known players
Ida Haendel
Certificates & Documents
Certificate: Machold Rare Violins, Ltd, Vienna (2010)- Dendrochronology report: John C. Topham, Surrey (2002) States that the youngest tree-rings measured on the front of the violin date from 1721 (bass side) and 1717 (treble side).
Letter: Waidele, Göteborg (1984) To Mr. Sun- Certificate: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (1950)
- Letter: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (1950) To Mr. Billmeir.
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 (Volumes I-IV), Jost Thöne, Jan Röhrmann, Alessandra Barabaschi, Jost Thöne Verlag, Cologne, 2010 (illustrated)- Antonius Stradivarius Cremona 1726 "ex Ida Haendel" (unpublished monograph), Machold Rare Violins, Vienna (illustrated)
- Argentina
- Christie's Fine Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, December 10, 1973, London, Christie's, Christie's, London (illustrated)
- Christie's Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, November 13, 2002, London, Christie's, Christie's, London (illustrated)
- Private Archives - 1610
- W. E. Hill & Sons Photographic Archive (illustrated)