Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri 'del Gesù', Cremona, c. 1725-29, the 'Count de Vière-Cheremetieff, Balokovic'
Violin: 43700
Labeled, "Joseph Guarnerius fecit / Cremone anno 1729 HIS."
Back: Two-piece
Varnish: Reddish orange-brown
Length of back: 35.25 cm
Upper bouts: 16.5 cm
Middle bouts: 11.05 cm
Lower bouts: 20.45 cm
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Notes:
"The "Balokovic" is one of perhaps no more than twenty-five violins made by the great master Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù prior to 1731 while he was working in his father's shop. The violin exhibits an interesting mixture of influences that were in play during the period in which the violin was made. The model owes much to Stradivari in conception with a full back length measurement and also in the broad setting of the soundholes. The scroll shows the unmistakable hand of del Gesù with the short first turn which makes the ears of the scroll appear longer. The maple used on the back, perhaps from the family stock, is attractive but not as lively as some of the material used by the maker later in his career. The varnish is the deep reddish orange-brown of the finest quality. Guarneri del Gesù appeared to often make violins in pairs. Another violin which has passed through our hands, the "Zimmerman" del Gesù is made on an identical form as the "Balokovic.""Provenance
| Comte de Vière | |
| until 1932 | Emil Herrmann, New York |
| Zlatko Balokovic | |
| Jean Michel | |
| until 1952 | Emil Herrmann, New York |
| from 1952 | Leo Simon Foundation |
| until 1965 | Jacques Français |
| from 1965 | Frank Gullino |
| in c. 1975 | Erick Friedman |
| ... | ... |
| in 1983 | Current owner |
Known players
Zlatko Balokovic
Certificates & Documents
Certificate: Machold Rare Violins, Ltd, Vienna (2005) X-1423.- Certificate: Jacques Français, New York, NY (1983) #2371.
- Certificate: Emil Herrmann, New York, New York, NY (1952) #2333, #1209.
Letter: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (1949)- Certificate: Hamma & Co., Stuttgart (1938)
- Certificate: Albert Caressa, Paris (1938)
- Certificate: Emil Herrmann, New York, New York, NY
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)- L'Esposizione di Liuteria Antica a Cremona nel 1937, Comitato Stradivariano, Cremona (illustrated)
- The Jacques Français Rare Violins, Inc. Photographic Archive and Business Records, 1844-1998, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, Box 57 (illustrated)
- The Jacques Français Rare Violins, Inc. Photographic Archive and Business Records, 1844-1998, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (illustrated)
- W. E. Hill & Sons Photographic Archive (illustrated)