Show RARE VIOLINS the mention of a stradivarius fiddle has always an irresistible fascination ci for musicians professional or amateur professional collectors have scoured europe for them and probably the whereabouts of every stradivarius extant is known to the dealers de aleis A considerable proportion of them is to be found in england aatonio stradivarius who was born in 1644 and diel in 1737 worked quietly on for over sixty years of his life taking it as a moderate estimate mate that he be turned out one violin a week lu in those days men worked more leisurely than they do in this age of stress and worry we should have a total of 0 over ver of t these h ese I 1 instruments n st from his bis hands bands of these how many are in existence today opinions differ mr gachez recently put the number at eighty mr hill the well known knon connoisseur believes that there are no fewer than 1000 of these violins still left the rise in their value has in recent times been enormous twenty or thirty years ago a strad in good condition might have been acquired in the open market at prices ranging from to now the case is altered an instrument of the makers better period in a fair state of preservation could not be had probably for 1000 whereas for the finest specimens ext extant a nt extraordinary tra prices are demanded the largest sum actually paid for a strad is we believe 1400 the next highest is 1200 which was paid for the violin chosen from froin the colledo col leoo of M La babitte labitte bitte of para for th the jubilee presentation laist to dr joachim by his english admirers by this gift dr became the happy possessor of three stradivarius fiddles who so fitted to own as the greatest violin player of the age mr baracate Bara Sara sate possesses it is understood two instruments kru st by the same maker both of great value while several other of our leading violinists are almost equally ble blessed sAed there is now dow in the market another magnificent stradivarius in a most perfect state of preservation it may at present be seen at mr hills in new bond street of its authenticity therM thero appears to be no doubt it was bought jn in 1794 in italy for 25 by an irish gentleman who took it home and then seems to have forgotten an ah about it at any rate it was lost sight of till 1845 when most of these instruments have their romance it narrowly escaped destruction in a fire it was discovered among the chattels rescued from the burning house and subsequently met with all the honors it deserved to its long period of obscurity its admirable state of preservation it is without a flaw of any kind is of course due the sight of it now as it reposes beneath its glass case illuminated at night by the electric light must stir the heart of the connoisseur tut but it can only pus pass into the possession of a man of ample ampie means or an enthusiast of the first order who would deem no sacrifice too great to become its owner the price asked for it is 2000 the sum appears enormous it to is true but even larger prices have been heard of the joachim jubilee committee were it Is 18 said asked 2500 for a strad which they we were tle sirous of presenting to the master and incredible as it may be it is understood that a leading artist has an instrument by the same great maker which he values with the partiality perhaps of an owner and enthusiast at poor old stradivarius was happy to get za 5 each for his big fiddles and by his fel low makers was looked upon as wealthy it is said that a number dumber of his instruments were sent in his hie day to england for disposal but were returned unsold so much as xa 5 not being obtainable for a violin cello st isk james gaime |