Violins

Violins are prized for their exceptional craftsmanship and expressive tonal qualities, having occupied a central place in musical performance for centuries. Crafted from carefully selected woods and refined through skilled workmanship, they have long been associated with artistic excellence and virtuosity. Played in orchestras, chamber ensembles and solo recitals, sought-after violins are produced by makers such as Stradivari, Amati, Guarneri and Stainer — in 2006, Christie’s sold an Antonio Stradivari violin for US$3.5 million, which became the most expensive instrument sold at auction at the time.


ANTONIO STRADIVARI

A VIOLIN, KNOWN AS THE PENNY , CREMONA, CIRCA 1700

GIOVANNI BAPTISTA GUADAGNINI

A VIOLIN, PIACENZA, CIRCA 1740

GIOVANNI BATTISTA GUADAGNINI

A VIOLIN, KNOWN AS THE EX-WOLLGANDT, MILAN, 1755

GASPARO BERTOLOTTI DA SALÒ

A VIOLA, BRESCIA, CIRCA 1575

GIOVANNI BAPTISTA GUADAGNINI

A VIOLIN, MILAN, CIRCA 1753

GENNARO GAGLIANO

A VIOLONCELLO, NAPLES, CIRCA 1765

ASCRIBED TO ANTONIO AND OMOBONO STRADIVARI

A COMPOSITE VIOLIN KNOWN AS THE BALDIANI, CIRCA 1730

PIETRO GIOVANNI GUARNERI

A VIOLIN, MANTUA, CIRCA 1690

MATTEO GOFFRILLER

A VIOLIN, VENICE, CIRCA 1705

JACOB STAINER

A VIOLA, ABSAM, CIRCA 1663

CARLO GIUSEPPE TESTORE

A VIOLIN, MILAN, CIRCA 1701

PIETER ROMBOUTS

A TENOR VIOLA DA GAMBA, AMSTERDAM, 1708

FRANÇOIS XAVIER TOURTE

A GOLD AND TORTOISESHELL MOUNTED VIOLIN BOW, PARIS, CIRCA 1820-25

CARLO FERDINANDO LANDOLFI

A VIOLONCELLO, MILAN, CIRCA 1771

FERDINANDO GAGLIANO

A VIOLIN, NAPLES, 1781

CARLO TONONI

A VIOLIN, VENICE, 1735

FERDINANDO GAGLIANO

A VIOLIN, NAPLES, 1750

GIOVANNI BATTISTA CERUTI

A VIOLIN, CREMONA, CIRCA 1800

ASCRIBED TO PIETRO ANTONIO DALLA COSTA

A VIOLIN, ITALY, CIRCA 1760

NICOLO GAGLIANO

A VIOLIN, NAPLES, CIRCA 1761

J.B. VUILLAUME SHOWING THE HAND OF PIERRE SIMON

A GOLD AND IVORY-MOUNTED VIOLIN BOW, PARIS, CIRCA 1849

NICOLAS LUPOT

A VIOLIN, KNOWN AS THE EX-SPOHR, ORLEANS, 1789

ENRICO ROCCA

A VIOLIN, GENOVA, 1914

CARLO ANTONIO TESTORE

A VIOLIN, MILAN, CIRCA 1763

ANDREA GUARNERI

A VIOLIN, CREMONA, CIRCA 1690

JACOB STAINER

A VIOLIN, ABSAM, CIRCA 1655

NICOLAS LUPOT

A VIOLIN, PARIS, 1799

ANTONIO AND GIROLAMO AMATI

A VIOLIN, CREMONA, CIRCA 1619

ENRICO CERUTI

A VIOLIN, CREMONA, MID 19TH CENTURY

ASCRIBED TO FRANÇOIS XAVIER TOURTE

A VIOLIN BOW, PARIS, CIRCA 1790

PAOLO ANTONIO TESTORE

A VIOLIN, MILAN, 1749

JEAN BAPTISTE VUILLAUME

A VIOLIN, PARIS, CIRCA 1850

GIUSEPPE GAGLIANO

A VIOLIN, NAPLES, CIRCA 1780

JOSEPH GAGLIANO

A VIOLIN, NAPLES, CIRCA 1777

GENOA SCHOOL

A VIOLIN, ITALY, MID 18TH CENTURY

ASCRIBED TO GIOVANNI VASALLO

A VIOLA, ITALY 19TH CENTURY

NICOLAS GAGLIANO

A VIOLIN, NAPLES, CIRCA 1740

PIETRO ANTONIO LANDOLFI

A VIOLIN, MILAN, CIRCA 1770

THOMAS DODD

A VIOLONCELLO, LONDON, CIRCA 1795

ASCRIBED TO GIUSEPPE GUARNERI 'DEL GESU'

A COMPOSITE VIOLIN, ITALY

DOMINIQUE PECCATTE

A SILVER-MOUNTED VIOLIN BOW, PARIS, CIRCA 1845

JOSEPH HENRY

A SILVER-MOUNTED VIOLIN BOW, PARIS, CIRCA 1855

SIMONE FERNANDO SACCONI

A VIOLIN AFTER THE GIUSEPPE GUARNERI DEL GESÚ KNOWN AS THE LORD WILTON , NEW YORK, 1971

ALFREDO CONTINO

A VIOLONCELLO, NAPLES, 1919

ASCRIBED TO JOSEPH ROCCA

A VIOLONCELLO, CIRCA 1853

PIETRO GIACOMO ROGERI

A VIOLIN, BRESCIA, CIRCA 1720

ASCRIBED TO PAUL ALLETSEE

A BASSETTO VIOLA DA GAMBA, GERMANY, CIRCA 1722

CARL BECKER

A VIOLONCELLO, CHICAGO, 1929