Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1690, the 'Stephens'
Violin: 40726
Labeled, "Antonius Stradiuarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno 1690."
Back: One-piece of medium curl ascending from left to right
Scroll: of narrow curl
Ribs: of wood similar to back
Varnish: Red-brown
Length of back: 36.4 cm
Upper bouts: 16.1 cm
Middle bouts: 10.8 cm
Lower bouts: 20.2 cm
There are 5 additional images in the archive which are not available publicly. Please contact us for more information.
Notes:
Emil Herrmann notes: "Period 1693/94. . . Very well repaired by Hills".The Jacques Français Rare Violins, Inc. Photographic Archive and Business Records, 1844-1998, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, The Jacques Français Rare Violins, Inc. Photographic Archive and Business Records, 1844-1998, Washington, DC
Provenance
| until 1925 | Hart & Son |
| 1925-1928 | Nathan E. Posner |
| 1928-1929 | Alfred E. Stephens |
| 1929-1930 | Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. |
| from 1930 | Theophile Schneider |
| until 1946 | Emil Herrmann, New York |
| from 1946 | Dr. Harry Backwin |
| until 1987 | Madame Gaby-Spanoghe |
| in 1987 | Sold by Sotheby's |
| from 1987 | Current owner |
Certificates & Documents
Certificate: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (1933)- Certificate: Hart & Son, London (1933)
- Certificate: Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., New York, NY (1930)
- Certificate: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (1925)
- Certificate: Emil Herrmann, New York, New York, NY
- Certificate: Hamma & Co., Stuttgart
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
36 Famous Italian Violins, Alex Wasinski, Herman Gordon, New York (illustrated)- Four Centuries of Violin Making: Fine Instruments from the Sotheby's Archive, Sotheby's, Sotheby's, Boston (illustrated)
- How Many Strads? (1999 edition), Doring, Bein & Fushi, Bein & Fushi, Chicago, 1999 (illustrated)
- Violins & Violinists, July, 1938, Ernest N. Doring, William Lewis & Son, Chicago (illustrated)
- Italian Violin Makers (1964), Karel Jalovec, Paul Hamlyn, London, 1964 (illustrated)
- Meisterwerke Italienischer Geigenbaukunst, Fridolin Hamma, Hamma & Co., Stuttgart (illustrated)
- Sotheby's Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, April 30, 1987, London, Sotheby's, Sotheby's, London (illustrated)
- Sotheby's Photo Archive
- The Jacques Français Rare Violins, Inc. Photographic Archive and Business Records, 1844-1998, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (illustrated)
- Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari 1644-1737, Herbert K. Goodkind, Larchmont, NY (illustrated)