RARITY OF "STRADS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 111, 13 May 1938, Page 6

RARITY OF "STRADS."

Two "Strade" were sold by auction in February—a violin which was bought for £1250 and a 'cello which fetched £1500. The prices do not fairly reflect the comparative rarity of violins and 'cellos made by Antonio Stradivarius, of Cremor.a, for there are more than ten times as many authenticated violine ae 'eelloe. According to authoritative calculations, Stradivariu* made 1116 instruments between 1660 and 1737. Of these only 540 violins, twelve violas and fifty 'cellos have been traced and established afi authentic. Many of the dubious. "Strads" which from time to time give rise to controversy were made 'by the master's eons. M<wt of the famoue violinists of the last two centuries have owned and played on "Strad--." It was Papanini's Stradivarius viola which stimulated Berlioz to write "Harold in Italy. , ' Mcnubin, Hnberinan and lleifetz all habitually play <>n instruments made by this maeter craftsman. The symphony orchestra which the National Broadcasting Company of America ha« collected for Toecanini boaste no fewer than six Sbradivarius violins. All the players in the first three des.ke of the first violins—that is to say, six players —uee them.