A VIOLIN, MANTUA, 1715

Details

PIETRO GIOVANNI GUARNERI
A VIOLIN, MANTUA, 1715
Labeled Petrus Guarnerius Cremonensis fecit/Mantuae sub tit. Sanctae Teresiae 1715, and bearing the catalogue number V783 stamped at the end of the fingerboard, length of back 13 15/16 in (354 mm) with case (2)

Provenance

Signor di Signi
William E. Hill and Sons
Matthew
Pearson
Sir Leon Bagrit
Henry Werro
William E. Hill and Sons
Morrison Dunbar
Judge Jellinek
Trevor Williams
Christies, London, June 22, 1994, lot 139
Present owner

The journals of William E. Hill and Sons make first mention of the violin with their purchase of it in 1936. Acquired from a Signor di Signi who resided in Nice the Hills sold it two years later to a Mr. Matthew. In 1943 the Hills repurchased the violin from Mr. Matthew and sold it to a Mr. Pearson of Leamington. The violin was subsequently sold to the English industrialist Sir Leon Bagrit. As the Chairman and Managing Director of Elliot Automation, Sir Leon Bagrit was also a talented amateur who served on the board of the Royal Opera House. He sold the violin to the Swiss dealer Henry Werro. By 1962 the violin was back in the possession of W.E. Hill and Sons who sold it to Morrison Dunbar. An amateur violinist, Dunbar served on the board of the Scottish National Orchestra and was a notable collector who owned the 1715 Stradivari known as The Alard. Once again the violin came into the possession of the Hills who sold it to a Judge Jellinek. Upon his death the violin was sold to Trevor Williams. A highly regarded teacher at London's Royal Academy of Music, Williams was also a conductor and violinist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. In 1994 Mr. Williams consigned the violin to Christie's where it was purchased by the present owner, who is a retired professional violinist.

Further details

END OF SALE

Lot Essay

Sold with the certificate of D. R. Hill and Son, Great Missenden, July 19, 2006 along with an accompanying letter, dated the same, which relates to the provenance of the instrument with the firm of W. E. Hill and Sons.

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