Books › The reminiscences of a fiddle dealer, 1925 › scan 22
Scan 22
The reminiscences of a fiddle dealer, 1925
10 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Introduction
3found in Strad. violins on the peg-box and at the neck when it is original, are very distinct. These enigmatical letters have given rise to some discussion among experts, but the conclusion appears to be that they are the initials of Paolo, the youngest son of Stradivarius, through whose hands the instruments may have passed. Paolo was a cloth merchant, not a violin maker, but he succeeded to his father's house after the decease of his brothers.
5The "King" Joseph Guarnerius del Gesu was formerly in the celebrated collection formed by the late James Goding, and was sold after his death in 1857 to the Vicomte de Janze from whom Mr. Laurie obtained it. The head of the "King" is bolder, and less symmetrical than that of the Strad. and is quaintly original, the arching of the belly and back is less marked and the inward curvings on the side are more pronounced.
7These instruments are now in the possession of Baron Knoop's family.
9At the end of this volume is appended a list of the prices Mr. Laurie obtained for Italian violins and 'cellos between 1876 and 1880. Since the sales recorded, now nearly half a century ago, prices have increased very much. The number of artistes and amateur players is far greater—consider the number of ladies who now play the violin, either first, second or 'cello; not so long ago it was thought to be quite an unsuitable instrument for them—and their value
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