Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-31
POSSESSES
FAMOUS VIOLIN
Instrument Made by Stradi-
varius in 1909 for Spanish
King NoWinC Capital.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

One of the most famous violins
known to the nHusical world was
brought to Washington yesterday by
Jeno Lener, first vioHnist of the Lener
Hungarian String Qua rtet, which made
its American debut in the Chamber
Music Hall of the Congressional Library.
The violin was made in 1909 by An
tonious Stradivarius, d famous fiddle"
maker Of Cremona, Italy, whose repu-
tation had become sol world renowned
that he received an order from King
Philip of Spain to maize quintet for
the Spanish court-tWko violinS, viola,
cello and bass. According to the notes
of SOriSi; monk of CEemona, and ali
intimate friend of Skadivarius, the
work that he could not bear to pant
with it and kept the instruments for
himself until his death In 1887.
Son Sold Instruments.
Later his son sold the quintet to
Charles w, and the beautiful inlaid in
Struments passed from Italy to the
Spanish Court. A missing1 link exists in
the history of the violin NOW owned by
Mr.. Lener as to how and when the in
strument passed from its Spanish own
erS into the hands of two London COL
lectors-first a John Blow Ind later, j.
Adams. When the latteris collection
was dissolved few years after he had
acquired the StardivariuS7 violin, it
passed into the possession of Count Greff-
uehle of France. It remained with
this family for such long period, that
1t was given the name of the French
count and to this day is known through
out the musical world as the, "Gref-
fuehle Strad"
Three years ago, in the workshop of
an Italian instrument maker, IF iorini of
Rome, Mr.. Jeno Lener saw the original
sketches of the Stradivarius violin. He
determined, if possible, to trace the in
Strument and secure it for his own use.
After long search throughout Europe,
he learned that it had passed from the
possession of small town CZechoslava-
khan collector to an antique firm of
Zurich, Germany. He tried to buy 1t,
but the owners refused to part with 1t
for fear that the precious instrument
would be wasted in the hands of a
mediocre artist. Mr.. Lener finally in
duced the owners of the violin to permit
him to play 1t at recital in the con-
cert hall of the firm. For the first time
In 220 years the old "Strad" was heard
in public at that concert, and, after
hearing the mastery way in which Mr..
Lener played the instrument, its owners
decided to part with 1t to one whom
they knew realized its value.
In his room at the Hotel Mayhower
the Hungarian musician opened an in
strument case and reverently took forth
the lovely old violin, exquisitely in9aid
in ebony and mother of-pearl. :
Varnish Secret Never Learned.
Calling attention to the coloringl of
the instrument, he said, This violin
has never been repaired or retoucfhed
in the 209 years of its existence. The
secret of Stardivarius' varnish which
is responsible for the wonderful preSery-
alton of his instruments, has never
been learned. Attempts have been made
to produce the same varnish by hum
dreds of instrument makers throughout
the world, but they have not as yet
been successful.
There exists in Spain manuscript
written by priest who was a violin.
maker Of the Spanish Court It seems;
that he had received an order to repair
the "Strad" violin. After examining
the instrument, he wrote that it would
be necessary to make new back and
| top for the violin, which was such a
costly repair, that its owner decided not
to have the work done. Consequently.
remarked Mr.. Lener with pride, 1.-The
violin as I now have 1t, is exactly as 1t
was when made by Stardivarius over
200 years ago"
1t is interesting to note that the ebony
| inlaid figures on the side of the violin
depict the famous sport of that century
hunting with the falcon and hounds.
a delicate inlay of mother-of-pearl
| decorates the top Of the instrument.
Mr.. Lener states that the viola and
the other violin of the original quintet
made for the Spanish King are now in
the possession of an American collector
The cello is in Madrid and the double
bass has apparently vanished. as Its
whereabouts are unknown at the present
| time.