Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1711, the 'Lady Inchiquin'
Violin: 41590
Bearing its original label, "Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno 1711."
Back: One-piece
Varnish: Orange-brown
Length of back: 35.8 cm
Upper bouts: 16.75 cm
Middle bouts: 10.8 cm
Lower bouts: 20.6 cm
There are 8 additional images in the archive which are not available publicly. Please contact us for more information.
Notes:
"The violin still bears an original label reading 'Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno 1711' and is named after its former owner, Lady Inchiquin -- born Ethel Jane Foster -- wife of the 15th Baron of Inchiquin, member of the ancestral family of the O'Briens, who were one of the few native Gaelic families of royal blood to descend directly from Brian Bóruma High King of Ireland in the 11th century.The instrument has often mistakenly been called 'Parke', which has caused confusion on several occasions, although the real 'Parke' has a two-piece back. . . .The violin is listed in Goodkind under "Parke, Cho-Ming Sin" with a provenance that appears to be crossed with the "Parke" Stradivari of 1711 in the possession of J.&A. Beare. The 'Lady Inchiquin is surprisingly absent from William Henley's book but his description of the 'Parke' ends with an illuminating sentence that shows how the author conflated the two instruments: 'Later belonged to Lord Inchequin, and bought by a Mr. Aufenart in 1948 from Puttick & Simpson's.' In fact, it was the 'Lady Inchiquin' that was auctioned and not the 'Parke'. Even the dealers Bein & Fushi could not avoid a mix-up involving the 'Lady Inchiquin' and the 'Parke'. In the certificate they prepared for the former, they mentioned a statement the Hills made in their book that actually refers to the latter: "The instrument is known as "The Parke", so named for one of its early owners.""
– Alessandra Barabaschi
Antonius Stradivarius (Volumes I-IV), Jost Thöne, Jan Röhrmann, Alessandra Barabaschi, Jost Thöne, Jan Röhrmann, Alessandra Barabaschi, Antonius Stradivarius (Volumes I-IV), Cologne
Provenance
until 1889 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
from 1889 | Mrs. Foster |
until 1940 | Lady Inchiquin |
1940-1948 | Sir Donough Edward Foster O'Brien |
in 1948 | Sold by Puttick & Simpson |
from 1948 | Mr. Aufenart |
until 1978 | Cho-Ming Sin |
in 1978 | Sold by Bein & Fushi, Inc |
1978-2001 | Walter Scholefeld |
from 2001 | Current owner |
Known players
Frank Peter Zimmermann
Certificates & Documents
- Certificate: Bein & Fushi, Inc, Chicago, IL (1980)
- Certificate: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (1889) "The belly of the violin has at some time been slightly browned with some fresh varnish. . ."
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
- The Strad, January, 1979, London (illustrated)
- How Many Strads? (1999 edition), Doring, Bein & Fushi, Bein & Fushi, Chicago, 1999 (illustrated)
- https://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/rare-stradivarius-violin-in-action-at-opera-house-tonight/2007/12/04/1196530677245.html
- Private Archives - 10842
- The ‘Lady Inchiquin’ Stradivari, 1711, Cozio Carteggio feature, Alessandra Barabaschi (illustrated)
- W. E. Hill & Sons Photographic Archive (illustrated)