Stradivari’s Life
Sir, —I have read with very great interest some of the letters which have appeared in your paper in reference to “Strad” violins, and thought that a brief history of Antonio Stradivari would not be out of place. From a history of the violin I quote: “This great master -was born in Cremona in the year 1644. At the age of 13, it is claimed, he made his first violin in Nicolo Amati’s workship. He remained with Amati until he was 23 or 24, working under the eyes of another, whom in all probability lie had already surpassed in dexterity. From 1668 he signed his instruments with his own name. In 1690 a change in his work began to manifest itself. Some of the Ainati traditions were still preserved, but the form broadens out, the arching improves, it becomes flatter, the degrees of thickness in the wood are carefully determined, the ff holes appear straighter and nobler in design, the varnish is mo:*.* highly coloured and fiery; in short, the whole instrument is approaching the stage of perfection which it reaches in the next decade. The second period of manufacture covers 1700-1725, when every instrument is seemingly more perfect. yet all nearly alike perfect. From 1725 to 1736 he continued to make violins, and died in 1737 at the age of T>3. He was particular that no instrument except flint made by his own hands should bear his label. Altogether, it lias been estimated that about 1000 violins are attributable to Stradivari, and'about "00 altos, celli and other instruments. Ho sold his violins at a uniform price of £4, which would be commensurate to about six times that amount in our time.”
In conclusion, may 1 mention that while I do not possess a “Strad” I have been informed that an instrument I own is a genuine "Amati.” I cannot believe it, for it lias no label of any kind, and many of your contributors believe that the label is proof of an instrument's make and nge.—l am, etc., * . I’. S. LARCOMB. Palmerston North.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19350130.2.131.9
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Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 107, 30 January 1935, Page 11
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346Stradivari’s Life Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 107, 30 January 1935, Page 11
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