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.
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."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
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
Capolavori di Antonio Stradivari, Charles Beare, Arnoldo Mondadori S.p.A., Milan (illustrated)
