Lot Essay
Certificate: Jacques Franais, New York, July 11, 1994, with photographs attached
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BY ANTONIO STRADIVARI, CREMONA, 1700, KNOWN AS THE TAFT, EX EMIL HEERMANN
Details
A fine Italian violin
By Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1700, known as the Taft, Ex Emil Heermann
The one piece maple back of strong medium curl descending from left to right, the ribs and scroll of similar wood, the spruce top of fine to medium grain, the varnish of a red gold color, the length of back 13 15/16in (354mm) (2)
By Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1700, known as the Taft, Ex Emil Heermann
The one piece maple back of strong medium curl descending from left to right, the ribs and scroll of similar wood, the spruce top of fine to medium grain, the varnish of a red gold color, the length of back 13 15/16in (354mm) (2)
Provenance
Albert Caressa Rudolf Wurlitzer Mrs. Charles Phelps Taft Emil Heermann Ernest Ruder
Traditionally said to have been in the possession of Albert Caressa, Paris, who passed it to Rudolf Wurlitzer in Cincinnati, Ohio. In or about 1915 Mr. Wurlitzer sold the violin to Mrs. Charles Phelps Taft, one of the founders of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and wife of the Cincinnati philanthropist Charles P. Taft, who presented it to Emil Heermann (son of Hugo Heermann), the concertmaster of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, for his use. In 1940, after the death of Mr. Taft, the violin was sold to the private collector and amateur violinist Mr. Ernest Ruder in Cincinnati where it remained until 1987, at which point the present owner purchased it through the shop of Mr. Jacques Franais. Further research has led us to believe that prior to Albert Caressa this instrument may have been in the possession of Freiher von Donop.
Traditionally said to have been in the possession of Albert Caressa, Paris, who passed it to Rudolf Wurlitzer in Cincinnati, Ohio. In or about 1915 Mr. Wurlitzer sold the violin to Mrs. Charles Phelps Taft, one of the founders of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and wife of the Cincinnati philanthropist Charles P. Taft, who presented it to Emil Heermann (son of Hugo Heermann), the concertmaster of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, for his use. In 1940, after the death of Mr. Taft, the violin was sold to the private collector and amateur violinist Mr. Ernest Ruder in Cincinnati where it remained until 1987, at which point the present owner purchased it through the shop of Mr. Jacques Franais. Further research has led us to believe that prior to Albert Caressa this instrument may have been in the possession of Freiher von Donop.
Literature
Ernest N. Doring, How Many Strads? Chicago, 1945, p. 107
Herbert K. Goodkind, Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari
New York, 1972, p. 301 illustrated, p. 729 and p. 761
Herbert K. Goodkind, Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari
New York, 1972, p. 301 illustrated, p. 729 and p. 761