Molitor Stradivarius
Encyclopedia
The Molitor Stradivarius is an antique violin made by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari
of Cremona in 1697, the very beginning of the maker's celebrated "Golden" period. It bears the label, "Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis / Faciebat Anno 1697" and is branded to the lower rib, "Curtis Phila."
Thought to have been owned by Napoleon Bonaparte
, the violin belonged to 19th century Parisian socialite and arts patron Juliette Récamier until 1804, when it came into the possession of a general in Napoleon's army, Count Gabriel-Jean-Joseph Molitor. The violin remained in the family of its namesake until World War I, when it was sold in quick succession by several Parisian firms. The violin then joined the ranks of other superlative instruments in the collection of the Curtis Institute of Music
, where it remained before being sold by the London firm of William Hill in 1936.
The violin was purchased by American violinist Elmar Oliveira
at Christie's in 1989.
Albert I. Stern, owned the Molitor Stradivarius for 16 years, until 2010.
The Molitor Stradivarius was sold through Tarisio Auctions
on October 14, 2010 for a record $3.6 million, the highest auction price ever paid for any musical instrument until the Lady Blunt was sold at auction on June 20, 2011.
The current owner of the Molitor is American violinist Anne Akiko Meyers
, who purchased the violin from Tarisio Auctions.
Antonio Stradivari
Antonio Stradivari was an Italian luthier and a crafter of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas, and harps. Stradivari is generally considered the most significant artisan in this field. The Latinized form of his surname, Stradivarius, as well as the colloquial, "Strad", is...
of Cremona in 1697, the very beginning of the maker's celebrated "Golden" period. It bears the label, "Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis / Faciebat Anno 1697" and is branded to the lower rib, "Curtis Phila."
Thought to have been owned by Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
, the violin belonged to 19th century Parisian socialite and arts patron Juliette Récamier until 1804, when it came into the possession of a general in Napoleon's army, Count Gabriel-Jean-Joseph Molitor. The violin remained in the family of its namesake until World War I, when it was sold in quick succession by several Parisian firms. The violin then joined the ranks of other superlative instruments in the collection of the Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
, where it remained before being sold by the London firm of William Hill in 1936.
The violin was purchased by American violinist Elmar Oliveira
Elmar Oliveira
Elmar Oliveira is a contemporary American violinist.The son of Portuguese immigrants, Elmar Oliveira was born on June 28, 1950, in Naugatuck, Connecticut. Mr. Oliveira was nine when he began studying the violin with his brother John. He later continued his studies with Ariana Bronne and Raphael...
at Christie's in 1989.
Albert I. Stern, owned the Molitor Stradivarius for 16 years, until 2010.
The Molitor Stradivarius was sold through Tarisio Auctions
Tarisio Auctions
- Tarisio Auctions :This is the main page for Tarisio Auctions, the online string instrument auction house. For the Italian violin collector, see Luigi Tarisio....
on October 14, 2010 for a record $3.6 million, the highest auction price ever paid for any musical instrument until the Lady Blunt was sold at auction on June 20, 2011.
The current owner of the Molitor is American violinist Anne Akiko Meyers
Anne Akiko Meyers
Anne Akiko Meyers is an American concert violinist. Meyers has toured and collaborated with a number of symphony orchestras and Il Divo, Chris Botti and Wynton Marsalis. Meyers tours with a 1730 Stradivarius violin called the 'Royal Spanish'...
, who purchased the violin from Tarisio Auctions.
External links
- The Molitor Stradivarius at cozio.com http://cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=2275
- Anne Akiko Meyers playing the Molitor on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v7o3IvUEAE