Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1699, the 'Lady Tennant, Lafont'
Violin: 41275
Labeled, "Antonius Stradiuarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno 1699."
Back: One-piece cut on the slab of medium to narrow curl ascending slightly from left to right
Top: of fine grain in the center, opening out to medium grain on the flanks
Scroll: of fainter medium curl
Ribs: cut on the quarter of narrow curl
Varnish: Golden-brown
Length of back: 35.5 cm
There are 2 additional images in the archive which are not available publicly. Please contact us for more information.
Notes:
"When Hill delivered the violin to Miles' residence at 40 Grosvenor Square, he wrote a note, saying a buyer couldn't find an instrument in a more perfect state. "Such violins never come into the saleroom nor are they offered publicly in any way," he wrote. The fitted case in which the violin rests still carries an engraved lock plate with Lady Tennant's name and address."This violin truly has a rich sound, Kristina Goetz, The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis
Provenance
| until 1839 | Charles Philippe Lafont |
| until 1900 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
| in 1900 | Sir Charles Tennant |
| 1900-1925 | Lady Tennant |
| 1925-1944 | Max Möller & Son |
| 1944-1981 | Dr. Bernhard Sprengel |
| 1981-2005 | Anonymous |
| in 2005 | Sold by Christie's |
| from 2005 | Current owner |
Known players
Charles Philippe Lafont, Ulf Hoelscher, Xiang Gao, Yang Liu, Yossif Ivanov
Certificates & Documents
- Dendrochronology report: John C. Topham, Surrey (2003) States that the year rings positively match a number of other works by Stradivari. Of note are matches with a 1696 Stradivari viola, known as The Archinto, belonging to London's Royal Academy of Music as well as two other 1699 violins, one belonging to the Musée de la Musique in Paris, and a violin made in 1700.
Certificate: Max Möller & Son, Amsterdam (1944)- Certificate: Bicentenario Stradivariano, Cremona (1937)
- Certificate: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (1900)
Letter: Arthur F. Hill, London (1900) To Lady Tennant: ". . . though you may see a Strad that you may be told is of a different period or more attractive, you cannot get one in the very perfect state that this instrument is. . ."- Certificate: Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., New York, NY
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
- Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work (1644-1737), W. Henry, Arthur F. & Alfred E. Hill, William E. Hill & Sons, London, 1902
- Bein & Fushi Catalog, Spring 2010
Christie's Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, April 22, 2005, New York, Christie's, Christie's, New York (illustrated)- Four Centuries of Violin Making: Fine Instruments from the Sotheby's Archive, Sotheby's, Sotheby's, Boston (illustrated)
- In Brief
- Italiaansche Vioolbouw, Max Möller, Max Möller N. V., Amsterdam (illustrated)
- L'Esposizione di Liuteria Antica a Cremona nel 1937, Comitato Stradivariano, Cremona (illustrated)
- Mostra di Antonio Stradivari (Palazzo Borromeo - Isola Bella), Turris Editrice, Cremona (illustrated)
- PlaybillArts: News: 'Lady Tennant' Stradivarius Loaned to Violinist Yang Liu
- Sotheby's Highly Important Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, November 25, 1983, London, Sotheby's, Sotheby's, London (illustrated)
- Sotheby's Photo Archive
- The Strad 2007 Calendar, Newsquest Specialist Media, London (illustrated)
- Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari 1644-1737, Herbert K. Goodkind, Larchmont, NY (illustrated)
- The Indianapolis Star, Kristina Goetz, Indianapolis, May20, 2005
- World of Strings, Fall, 1962, William Moennig & Sons, Philadelphia (illustrated)