The birth of the modern violin dates back to the 16th century, when some traditional Italian instrument makers developed the standard shape and characteristics that we normally see in violins nowadays.
Before the modern violin came into existence, many other similar instruments of different sizes and tunings existed, like the Persian-related rabab, the French vielle, or the several types of viola that predated the violin in Italy.
However, it was during Antonio Stradivari’s lifetime, one of the greatest violin makers of all time, that the violin gained incredible popularity and fame.
The quality of his instruments has rarely been matched, for which reason today each of them may easily reach seven figures. Before we understand how these instruments were appraised, we first need to know who Stradivari was.
Who were the Stradivari?
Stradivari was a family of instrument makers who lived in Cremona, in the north of Italy, and were known for the superior quality of their craft.
One of the most illustrious makers from this family was Antonio Stradivari, who may have been an apprentice of Nicola Amati, another notable Cremonese maker.
Antonio created the most beautiful violins ever made, and the superb sound of his instruments was until recently considered by many to be unmatched.
For violin makers at the time, it was common practice to sign the instruments with a latinized form of the maker’s name, hence Antonius Stradivarius.
The greatest years of Stradivari’s career—also called his ‘golden period’—happened between the years 1700 and 1725, approximately. During this period, he produced his finest works, creating a unique design that contributed to the resonance and sound projection of his instruments.
Secrets and myths
Many people wonder what the secrets behind the extraordinary qualities of Stradivari’s instruments are, especially his incredible violins.
Because of the outstanding qualities of his instruments, many myths were created along the way that certainly do not correspond to reality: hidden varnish formulas with blood; use of wood from sunk ships, and many others.
Scientific studies show that Stradivari used traditional techniques and materials to build his violins. The type of wood he used also did not differ from the standard: spruce and maple.
What may have enhanced the acoustic qualities of his instruments was a special chemical treatment for the wood, but if that alone was his big secret, all of his instruments should have the same sound qualities, which is not true, as many of his instruments fail to fully please the ears of the most refined players.
Experimental studies also show that the human ear cannot distinguish the best violins made by Stradivari from some other high-quality violins, old or modern.
What is known, actually, is that the wood available at that time had great acoustic properties due to a cold era called the ‘Little Ice Age’, which caused the trees to produce denser wood, which, in turn, could improve the resonance of instruments.
How Much Is A Stradivarius Violin Worth
Among his most notable instruments, we have:
1. The ‘Messiah’, Antonio Stradivari, 1716, estimated at US$20 million
One of the most valuable violins in the world, the ‘Messiah’, has stayed in flawless condition until nowadays, despite its long history. After Stradivari passed away, his son made the decision to sell his father’s instruments, including the Messiah Violin, which was sold to the Count Salabue.
The count retained the violin until 1827, when he sold it to instrument trader Luigi Tarisio. Tarisio kept this instrument secretly, and because of this, a musician by the name of Delphin Alard called this specific instrument “The Messiah,” the one that everyone wants to see.
2. The ‘Lady Blunt’, Antonio Stradivari 1716, sold for US$15.9 million.
The ‘Lady Blunt’ violin is one of the best preserved violins made by Antonio Stradivari. It was once owned by Lady Anne Blunt, granddaughter of Lord Byron, and always kept in pristine condition.
During its life, it has been cared for by several of the most responsible collectors and experts in history and has rarely been played.
‘Lady Blunt’ reached the hands of a private collector, who sold it to Japan’s Nippon Foundation in 2008.
In order to benefit the victims of the tsunami that happened in Japan at that time, the foundation put the instrument up for auction, and it ended up being sold for almost US$16 million, the highest price ever paid for a Stradivari’s violin.
3 The ‘Da Vinci’ Ex-Seidel Antonio Stradivari 1714, US$15.3 million
This particular violin was owned by the great violinist Toscha Seidel, who used it during his performances and in recordings for movies. After passing through the hands of many traders over the years, the violin was bought by a businessman in 2007.
The instrument became part of the Munetsugu Collection of Nagoya, Japan. However, in 2022, it went to a public auction and sold for a bit more than US$15.34 million.
4. The ‘La Pucelle’ Stradivari 1709, US$6 million
This instrument was built by Stradivari in 1709 and, as most of his instruments, has suffered some modifications throughout the centuries.
An interesting feature of this instrument is its ornate tailpiece design, made by a violin maker and dealer from Paris, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, in the 19th century. The carving depicts Joan of Arc, the virgin warrior known as ‘La Pucelle’, from whom the violin takes its name.
The ‘Molitor’ Stradivari 1697, US$2.7 million
The ‘Molitor’ Stradivari is believed to have been owned by Napoleon Bonaparte and was in the possession of one general of his army called Count Gabriel Molitor, hence its nickname.
The violin was sold and passed through many shops before being offered to the Red Cross in order to be sold for fundraising.
Two great American violinists have owned it recently: Elmar Oliveira, who won the Gold Medal at Tchaikovsky’s violin competition, and Anne Akiko Meyers, a recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, who bought it in 2010 for $2.7 million.
Final words
There are many other violins made by Stradivari that could be on our list, like the ‘Dolphin’, the ‘Kreutzer’, and the ‘ex-Szigeti’, each of them having unique characteristics, tone colors, and sound quality that make them the finest violins ever made in history.
It is impossible to define a price for these instruments, given their history and historical importance. Their prices are expected to keep rising and reach incredible sums of money.
Interestingly enough, the instrument made by Stadivari that reached that highest selling price was not a violin but a viola, built in 1701, nicknamed “MacDonald”: $45 million dollars.