HIGH-PRICED VIOLINS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1932, 30 November 1888, Page 31

HIGH-PRICED VIOLINS.

Amongst loyalty, the Duke of Edinburgh and the two sons of Prince Christian are accomplished violinists, whilst the Princess Louise plays upon the violoncello with much skill. The Duke is in possession of a couple of Stradivarii ; the finest of these, a beautiful instrument, was left him by the late Duke of Cambridge. He has just lent it to the loan collection of musical instruments at the Bologna Exhibition.

His Royal Highness is an enthusiast in all matters connected with his favourite instrument, and, together with Lord Dudley and a few other noblemen, secured for Madame Norman Neruda the violin which belonged to Ernst, the greatest player of his day, 40 years ago. This was purchased from Ernst's widow for a sum little short of £500, but since its presentation to Madame Neruda some years ago its value has been considerably enhanced.

Baron Rothschild has not only a quartette of "Strad's" — that is, two violins, a violoncello, and a viola— but his immense wealth enables him to retain the services of a quartette of efficient players to finger the instruments at his will.

Lord Windsor has a " Strad," so has Lord Wilton, together with a Josef Guarnerius. Mr Richard Bennett, of Manchestsr, Mr Oharles Oldham, and Mr O. J. Meir all own some of the finest specimens extant, whilst the late Charles Reade could boast of a valuable violin, and the widow of the late Tom Taylor possesses a Stradivarius bequeathed to her by her husband. It is probable that nearly every American millionaire owns either a " Strad" or a Josef Guarnerius, as much for curiosity as for purposes of playing upon. An American will pay as much as £300 more for a good specimen than one of our own countrymen ; but there is always a sigh amongst. the dealers when a violin crosses the herring-pond. They are seldom known to come back again, and a dealer calculates that a remarkable instrument passes through his hands five or six times during his life, each time the profits being proportionately larger. Turning to professionals, Mr Carrodus plays on a Josef Guarnerius worth £1000. It is a veritable curiosity, for it is the very instrument owned by Paganini and lost by him when gambling. This violin, which originally belonged to a foreign nobleman, was presented to the great violinist, and the story is well-known how, when he lost his all at the gaming table, in desperation he staked his violin, and that went too.

The date of Sarasate's violin is 1722. He purchased it some years ago from Vuillaume, the celebrated French dealer, and its market value is near £800.

Joachim, who is an Hungarian, owns two very fine " Strads," dated respectively 1715 and 1721. The last he purchased at BudaPesth for £1000. Wilhelmj, who played in London at the promenade concerts some years ago, has another of this maker's instruments, whilst Signor Piatti possesses a violoncello bearing the same name and dated 1722.

The value of Hermann of Frankfort's violin is £1050. It was exhibited at the Inventions Exhibition at South Kensington.

The highest price yet paid for a violin was £1400, given for the instrument known as the Betts' Stradivarius. It gained this distinguishing title through a remarkable incident.

Betts was a music seller at the Royal Exchange some 50 years ago, and one day a stranger entered his shop and asked him to purchase a violin, for which he required the modest sum of a guinea. The dealer immediately saw the value of his bargain, accepted the offer, and secured the instrument. It was retained in the Betts family for a number of years, and after passing through the hands of several dealers, finally found a home in the collection of a foreign nobleman, where it is now. Still more striking is the history of a violin which is supposed to have the loudest tone of any extant, a Josef Guarnerius, for which the late Mr Andrew Fountaine offered £400 40 years ago in order to present it to Ernst, for whom he had a great admiration. It was originally the property of Marshal Junot, one of Napoleon's .generals, and was being conveyed to Bordeaux when the vessel was captured by an English privateer, and the fiddle fell to the lot of one of the sailors as prize money. Jack, when he landed at Whitehaven, took it to the clergyman of the place and parted with it for a small sum. The finest specimens, however, with one or two exceptions, are in the hands of amateurs. Indeed, it is said that the most valuable instrument has never been played upon to the present time. It was made for the court of Tuscany in 1690, and after a lapse of over a hundred years (1792) was purchased by an English family and brought to this country. It has recently been secured by Messrs Hill and Sons, the well-known dealers, and its value is estimated at £2000. — Home Paper.