Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1699, the 'Lafont'
Violin: 41274
Bearing its original label, "Antonius Stradiuarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno 1699" and "Choisi par Lafont."
Back: One-piece, cut on the slab of horizontal narrow curl
Top: of very fine grain in the center, opening out towards the flanks
Scroll: of faint medium to narrow curl
Ribs: cut on the quarter of medium to narrow curl; one-piece bottom rib
Varnish: Orange-brown
Length of back: 35.45 cm
Upper bouts: 16.6 cm
Middle bouts: 10.75 cm
Lower bouts: 20.4 cm
There are 8 additional images in the archive which are not available publicly. Please contact us for more information.
Notes:
"The great French concert violinist, Lafont, placed his own name within to show his affection for this masterpiece."World of Strings, 1984 Holiday Issue, World of Strings, 1984 Holiday Issue, Philadelphia
The ‘Lafont’ was originally loaned to the Boston Symphony by the sisters of violinist Mark Reindorf. When they finally decided to sell it, an investor on the Symphony Board bought it from them for the Symphony.
Provenance
| Charles Philippe Lafont | |
| Chauvin | |
| de Nanteuil | |
| Boston Symphony Orchestra | |
| in 1871 | M. Sayvé |
| until 1915 | Caressa & Français |
| 1915-1918 | Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. |
| 1918-1921 | Dr. Eugenio Sturchio |
| ... | ... |
| from 1921 and in 1931 | Saffe Albert |
| until 1938 | William Moennig & Son |
| 1938-1946 | Dr Charles A. Haff |
| 1946-c. 1987 | Dr Donald Haff |
| in c. 1987 | Sold by William Moennig & Son |
| c. 1987-1993 | Mark Reindorf |
| from 1993 | Current owner |
Known players
Malcolm Lowe
Certificates & Documents
Certificate: William Moennig & Son, Philadelphia, PA (1938)- Certificate: Emil Herrmann, New York, New York, NY (1931)
- Certificate: Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., Cincinnati, OH (1920)
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)- How Many Strads? (1999 edition), Doring, Bein & Fushi, Bein & Fushi, Chicago, 1999 (illustrated)
- Sotheby's Photo Archive
- Sotheby's Stringed Instruments Auction Catalog, November 12, 1987, London, Sotheby's, Sotheby's, London (illustrated)
- 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)
- World of Strings, 1984 Holiday Issue, William Moennig & Son, Philadelphia (illustrated)