Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1707, the 'Brüstlein'
Violin: 40702
Bearing its original label, "Antonius Stradivarius Cremonesis Faciebat Anno 1707."
Back: One-piece with medium-wide flaming falling slightly towards the bass side
Top: of medium to fine grain
Scroll: of medium to broad curl
Ribs: of medium to broad curl, the lower rib uncut
Varnish: Red-brown on a golden ground
Length of back: 35.4 cm
Upper bouts: 16.7 cm
Middle bouts: 10.75 cm
Lower bouts: 20.65 cm
Notes:
"The wood used in the back of this instrument is similar in appearance to that found in other instruments of the same year, for example see Sotheby's sale 22nd November 1984, lot 21, 'La Cathrédale'."Sotheby's Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, June 6, 1991, London, Sotheby's, Sotheby's Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, June 6, 1991, London, London
Provenance
| until 1905 | Brüstlein |
| in 1905 | Sold by August Herrmann |
| from 1905 | Jelenik |
| in 1945 | Rudolph Loeb |
| until 1991 | Harvard University |
| from 1991 | Oesterreichische Nationalbank |
Known players
Benjamin Schmid
Certificates & Documents
Certificate: Christophe Landon Rare Violins, New York, NY (1993)- Certificate: Andreas Post, Amsterdam (1993)
- Certificate: John & Arthur Beare, London (1992)
Letter: Dario D'Attili, Dumont, NJ (1984)- Insurance valuation: Horst E. Kloss, Brighton, MA (1978)
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)- The Strad, September, 1992, Orpheus, London (illustrated)
- How Many Strads? (1999 edition), Doring, Bein & Fushi, Bein & Fushi, Chicago, 1999
- Masterpieces of Violin-Making: The Collection of Bowed Stringed Instruments of the Oesterreische Nationalbank, Rudolf Hopfner, Skira, Milan (illustrated)
- Sotheby's Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, June 6, 1991, London, Sotheby's, Sotheby's, London (illustrated)
- Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari 1644-1737, Herbert K. Goodkind, Larchmont, NY (illustrated)