Books › The "Tuscan". A short account of a violin by Stradivari, made for Cosimo de Medici, Grand duke of Tuscany, dated 1690, 1891 › scan 26
Scan 26
The "Tuscan". A short account of a violin by Stradivari, made for Cosimo de Medici, Grand duke of Tuscany, dated 1690, 1891
6 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 12. See the scan on archive.org.
1long-sought fiddle. It was enclosed in its original old leather-covered case, studded with brass nails and opening at one end; but was quite out of order, with no sound post or fittings. With a view to placing the instrument, which he christened "The Toscana," in careful hands, Mr. Richard Ker took it to a friend, Mr. F. Ricardo, an ardent amateur, then resident in Paris, and its subsequent history includes several interesting incidents. Mr. Ricardo was at first puzzled by its fresh appearance, but lost no time in taking it to the celebrated Parisian maker, Vuillaume. His old foreman examined it carefully, but would give no opinion; but, on Vuillaume's entrance, held it up and said: "Here! Monsieur Vuillaume, here is a Stradivari," to which Vuillaume, without approaching nearer, replied at once: "Oui, certainement." He then took the violin in his hands and pulled out the pegs, remarking that they did not belong to it. This interesting testimony to the genuineness of the instrument, and to the remarkable judgment possessed by Vuillaume, was given by an eye-witness of the occurrence.
3On another occasion it was shown to the great English maker, Fendt, who is reported to have exclaimed: "If it is not a Strad it is something better;" and about twelve years ago it was seen by the head of the present firm of Messrs. Hill & Sons, whose experienced eye at once recognised the rare beauty of the instrument.
5To return to 1847; the violin was put into playing order by Vuillaume, and it could not have been entrusted to better hands. It then remained in the custody of Mr. Ricardo, by whom it was little used but carefully preserved, until the year 1875, when it was acquired by that
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