1_ ANTONIO STRADIVARI - The”Monastrio”(1719).

It takes its name from the famous violinist Jesus de Monasterio (1836-1903) ,who used it as his concert instrument. It is built on a slightly narrower model than the “Joachim”. It is now in the possession of Mr.Alexander Macky-Smith.

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One of the two great Stradivaris owned by the famous French player, Pierre Rode. The date 1733 has been partly effaced, but under it in Stradivari's own hand is written “made at the age of 89”. It was later in the possession of the French virtuoso Johann L'Eveque, and came to this country in the early part of this century. It is now owned by Mr. Jerry Castellone.

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Nicolo Amati, son of Hieronymus and grandson of Andre, was born in 1596 and died in Cremona 1684. This instrument, one of the rare decorated examples of his work, was made for the Court of France at the time of Louis XIV. It also disappeared for a time during the French Revolution, and was mentioned shortly after by one of the early writers on violins who stated that its only flaw was that he did not personally own it. It was sold to a Russian Revolution came to this country and is now in private ownership.

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It takesits name from the famous violinist Jesus de Monasterio (1836-1903) ,who used it as his concert instrument. It is built on a slightly narrower model than the “Joachim”. It is now in the possession of Mr.Alexander Macky-Smith.

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Certainly one of the most beautiful “del Gesus” in existence. It takes its name from the well known English amateur player, C. H. Chichele Plowden, who also owned three other fabulous Guarneris and four Stradivaris.It was later in the possession of another famous amateur, Louis D'egville and stil later in two other famous collections , those of Baron Knoop and Richart Bennett. It is now in the possession of Mrs.William Rosenwald.

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A rare example of the early period of Stradivari's work and one of the few examples with decorative inlay of ebony and ivory. This famous violin was in the possession of Ole Bull, the famous Norwegian violinist, during the first part of the 19 th century. Later it was the concert violin of Paul Kochanski. It has often been called the “Spanish”, probably because it has been confused with similar decorated instruments made by Stradivari for the Spanish Court. The date has often been Miss-read as 1688. It is now in the possession of Dr. Donald W. Haff.

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The early French virtuoso Charles Lafont was the first owner on record, in the beginning of the last century. In later years it came into the possession of Adolph Brodsky who, it was said, played the first performance of the Tchaikovsky Concerto on this magnificent violin. It is now owned by Mr. Jack Marlin.

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Violins by this maker are extremely rare, and this is probably the best known example of the maker who was born in 1540 and died about 1600. This instrument was for many years in the possession of Wilhelm Kux of viena, and is now owned by Mr. Hugh w. Long

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Carlo Bergonzi followed more nearly the style of the Guarneris than that of Stradivari and was probably trained in the shop of Josef Guarneri, son of Andrea. This beautiful example takes its name from its early English owner, Sir Clifford Constable. After passing through various other English owners it came to this country and is now in the possession of Mr. Hugh W. Long.

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A characteristic example of the last year of Guarneri's life, rough in its exterior appearance and workmanship, but with dramatically rich tone. This violin was owned by the Belgian violinist and composer Charles Deberiot. He sold it during the latter part of his life to a French violinist and it has remained in that family's hands to this day.

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A beautifully preserved example recently brought to this country from Madrid where it had been in private hands for many years. It is now in the possession of Mr. Rembert Wurlitzer.

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One of several fine del Gesus owned by this violinist. It later was owned by the English-Italian player Guido Papini, and after passing through the collections of the Duc de Camposelice and other well-known amateurs, it eventually came to this country and is now in the possession of Mr. Hugh W. Long.

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One of at least eight Stradivaruses owned by this famous quartet player who acquired it in 1849. It has since been in the hands of various private owners, and is now in the possession of Mr. Hugh W. Long.

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This famous concert violin has passed through the hands of many famous players as well as amateurs. It was first known in the hands of an officer of the bank of England and later owned by the English player Alfred Gibson. Eventually it came in to the hands of the great Polish virtuoso Bronislaw Hubermann and its voice was hear in all the great concert halls of the world. In recent years it has become the solo instrument of Rugglero Ricci.

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This instrument was imported to England by Andrew Fountaine who gave it, in about the year 1850, to the great virtuoso Heinrich Ernst. In 1874, after Ernst's death , it was purchased by the Duke of Edinburgh and presented to another great virtuoso, Madame Norman Neruda. It is now in the possession of Mr. William Kroll.

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