Scan 16
Catalog of Rare Old Violins, Violas, Violoncellos, Bows of Rare Makes, 1922
21 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1his family for two hundred years, according to the Latin inscription by J. B. Cartier, chef d'orchestre of Louis XVIII, written in ink in the back of the violin, on the occasion of taking it to Gand, the young pupil of Nicholas Lupot, for repairs. (See Plates VI and VII.) Probably no other violin in existence has a more interesting history.
3It is in a fine state of preservation, and has a very wonderful tone, remarkable alike for volume and quality. It is an instrument of very full size, being slightly over fourteen inches in length of body, and usual width of upper and lower bouts.
5The back is beautifully decorated with the coat-of-arms of Henry IV, King of France and Navarre, and the sides bear the inscription which, translated, reads "Henry IV, by grace of God, King of France and Navarre." The Latin inscription within the violin states that it was decorated by the most distinguished pupils of the maker.
7This instrument was brought to the United States by the late R. D. Hawley, of Hartford, Connecticut, who secured it through the medium of Mr. George Hart, of Hart & Sons, Wardour Street, London, in 1879. Mr. Hawley permitted himself to sell it to his life-long friend and colleague, Mr. Albert Pitkin, whose property it remained until it was recently purchased by us, together with the celebrated "Mori" Nicola Amati, now in the R. D. Hawley collection.
9It is impossible to describe the extraordinary richness of the tone of this instrument. It is unique among violins. Without the somber quality which usually characterizes the works of Brescia, it has all their richness, with the added richness and bright soprano quality of the violins of Cremona. It is a quaint tone, the color of which may be compared to wine of a very rare old vintage. It has volume and power for concert or quartet use.
11The varnish is of the richest description, and of a rare, golden brown color.
13The wood throughout is of the choicest selection. Back and sides are especially handsome. (Plate II)
15Price: $12,000
17CARLO BERGONZI, CREMONA, 1733
18From The Schley Collection
20NUMBER 5299. "As fine as a Strad" is an expression often used, greatly abused, but which can properly be applied to the violins of his greatest pupil, Bergonzi, who, on the death of Stradivari's sons,
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