Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1889-12-28
DRSERET EVENING NEWS
RARE vI0LINs.
PRICES FOR sTRADIvARIUs INsTRU,
MENTs ADVANCING.

-hkAN
The mention Of a Stradivarius
fiddle has always an irresistible fas-
cination for musicians, professional
or amateur. Professional collectors
have secured Europe for them. and
probably the whereabouts Of every
Stradivarius eXtant Is SHOWN to the
dealers. \ considerable proportion
Of them is to be found in England.
Antonio Stradivarius, who was born
in 1854 and diei in 1857, worked
quietly on for over sixty years Of his
life. Taking il As n moderate esti-
mate that he turned Out one violin
a week-in those days men worked
more leisurely than they do in this
age OF stress and wOrry-we should
have a total Of over 300 OF these in
struments from his hands.
OF these how many ere in exist
ence today? Opinions differ. Mr..
Nachez recently put the number at
eighty. Mr.. Hill, the well known
cUnnoisseur, 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 agOa "Strad''
in good condition might have been
acquired in the opes market at
prices ranging from $500 to $500.
Now the case i altered. An instru-
ment OF the makers better period in
n fair state of preservation could not
be had probably for ElO00, whereas
for the finest specimens extant ex-
traordinary prices are demanded.
The largest sum actually paid for 4
s'Strad' is, we believe, eliO0. The
next highest is el20O, which was
paid for the violiR chosen from the
collection Of NJ. Labitte Of Paris
for the jubilee presentation last year
10 DR.. Joachim by his English adj
mirers. BY this gift Dr. Joachim
became the happy pOSsessOr Of three
Stnadivarius fiddlcs. Who SO fitted
to WI them Is the greatest violin
player OF the age? Air. S;rasate
possesses, 1t is understood, two in
struments by the same maker, both
Of great value, while several other
Of our leading violinists are almost
equally blessed.
There is now i'm the market an
other magnificent Stradivarius in n
most perfect state OF preservation.
Ii may at present he seon at Mr..
Hill's in New Bond Street. OF its
authenticity there appears to be no
doubt. 1t was bought in 1894 in
Italy for E25 by an Irish gentle
man, who took it home and then
seems to have forgotten all about il.
At any rate ii was lost sight VI till
1915, when (mOst Of these instTu-
ments have their rOmance) it mar
rOwly escaped destruction in n fire.
1t was discovered among the chat
tels rescued from the burning house,
and subsequently met with all
the honOr it deserved. To
its long period Of Obscurity
its admirable state Of preservation
it is without n flaw Of any kinds,
Of course, due. The sight Of il now,
as it reposes beneath is glass case,
Illuminated at night 10y the electric
light, must stir the heart Of the
cOnnoisseur. But it can only pass
into the possession Of n man Of am
pie means, or an enthusiast Of the
first order, who would deem no
sacrifice too great u become its
owner. The price asked for it il
10000.
The sum appears enormous, il is
true; but even larger prices have
been heard Of. The Joachim Jubi-
lee Committee were, it is said, asked
s25OO for q "StraG'' which they
were desirUus Of presenting to the
master, and, incredible rs il may be,
it Is understood that n leading artist
has an instrument by the same great
maker which he values, with the
partiality perhaIs Of an Owner and
enthusiast, ut 5000. Poor old
Stradivarius was happy 10 get -
each for his iiddleS, and by his fell
Lawmakers was looked upon rs
wealthy. Ii Is said that a number
OF his instruments were sent in his
day to England for disposal, but
were returned unSold, 50 much q 50
not being obtainahle for a violin
sellO.-S. James G0-shs.