Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1735, the 'Elman, Hartmann, Samazeuilh, Count Chaponey'
Violin: 40547
Bearing its original label, "Antonius Stradivarius Cremonesis / Faciebat Anno 1735 / d'anni 91."
Back: Two-piece of faint broad curl
Top: of medium wide grain, narrowing toward the center joint
Scroll: of wood similar to back
Ribs: of medium curl
Varnish: Red-brown on a golden ground
Length of back: 35.6 cm
Upper bouts: 16.2 cm
Lower bouts: 20.2 cm
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Notes:
By 1909, it had been acquired by a member of the French Samazeuilh family, hence the name of the violin “Samazeuilh”. In 1923 it came in the possession of the virtuoso Mr. Mischa Elman (1891-1967), who in a letter written in 1926 considered it “one of the best Stradivarius instruments for tone quality…”Provenance
| Luigi Tarisio | |
| Pierre Silvestre | |
| Count de Chaponay | |
| Hippolyte C. Silvestre | |
| until 1901 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
| from 1901 | Arthur Martinus Hartmann |
| in 1909 | Madame J.. Samazeuilh |
| ... | ... |
| in 1923 | Sold by Albert Caressa |
| from 1923 and in 1926 | Mischa Elman |
| Raymond Pitcairn | |
| in 1980 | Sold by Christie's |
| from 1981 | Max Möller & Son |
| 1983-2017 | Anonymous (Switzerland) |
| from 2017 | Nippon Music Foundation |
Known players
Eiko Kano, Mischa Elman
Certificates & Documents
Certificate: Roland Baumgartner, Basel (2017)
Letter: Mischa Elman, New York, NY (1926) Refers to the instrument as the "Count Chapponey": "The Stradivarius violin known as the 'Count Chapponey' dated 1735 has been in my possession since July 1923 and I have used it at all my concerts for two decades. I consider it one of the best Stradivarius instruments for tone quality and it is in an excellent state of preservation."- Certificate: Caressa & Français, Paris (1923)
- Letter: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (1903) Giving history of instrument.
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References
- Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work (1644-1737), W. Henry, Arthur F. & Alfred E. Hill, William E. Hill & Sons, London, 1902
Capolavori di Antonio Stradivari, Charles Beare, Arnoldo Mondadori S.p.A., Milan (illustrated)- Christie's Important Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, March 29, 1980, New York, Christie's, Christie's, New York (illustrated)
- The Strad, October, 1980, London (illustrated)
Nippon Music Foundation Instrument Recipients- Nippon Music Foundation: Samazeuilh Stradivari