Notes:

"These instruments are understood to have been selected directly from Vuillaume by the virtuoso Ole Bull (b Bergen, 1810; d Lysoen, 1880) to form a quartet for a Norwegian client, together with a Stradivari copy violin. Grove (Vol 3, pp. 445-447) confirms that Bull occasionally spent time in Paris and notes, amongst other accolades, that he was the only violinist, apart from Paganini, ever to play a concert at the Opera. Grove further notes that Ole Bull was '...a connoisseur and collector of violins and an expert in their construction and repair, often working with Vuillaume when in Paris.' The first owner was active in the cultural establishment of Fredrikshald (now Halden) in Norway. In the 1960's ownership of the quartet passed to the their grandson, who loaned the instruments to the Philharmonic Orchestra of Oslo."

Sotheby's Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, November 2, 1993, London, Sotheby's, Sotheby's Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, November 2, 1993, London, London