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Scan 82
Old Violins And Their Makers, 1883
4 lines. Read by computer on 30 September 2026. Printed page 68. See the scan on archive.org.
1total number of genuine Stradivari violins known to be in existence at present in the various countries of Europe and in America does not, I think, exceed 200.
3Tarisio, who possessed the most accurate acquaintance with these violins, used to scour the Italian villages and make an annual journey to Paris with numbers of scrolls, backs, bellies, and other parts of the violin, for he used to take them to pieces to avoid the heavy customs duties they levied on these things, and dispose of them to French and other buyers. This speculation he continued until he died, in October, 1854. He left a magnificent collection of valuable instruments, and when the news of his decease came to the ears of the indefatigable Vuillaume, the latter packed up and departed for the farm where Tarisio's heirs lived, introduced himself, and desired to know where the special objects of his search were. They replied, "At Milan, but we have six violins here," and pointed out in a corner six cases piled one upon another. Vuillaume had them brought out into the middle of the apartment and set himself to examine their contents. The first he opened contained a splendid Stradivari; the second a Joseph del Jesu; the third a Carlo Bergonzi, in exquisite preservation; the following two had each a Gio. Bap. Guadagnini almost intact; and the last contained a magnificent unplayed violin, by Stradivari, which had remained for sixty years carefully preserved in the collection of Count Cozio di Salabue until it was bought by Tarisio in 1824. The latter had often referred to this instrument in his various visits to the French capital, but would never show it, being confident of getting a splendid price whenever he might choose to offer it for sale. Vuillaume came to
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