Scan 311
The violin: its famous makers and their imitators, 1875
4 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. Printed page 249. See the scan on archive.org.
1the Stradiuarius Violins which Mr. Fountain possessed was that of Habeneck, the famous professor at the Paris Conservatoire in the early part of the present century (from whom he purchased it), the date of which is 1737, the year of Stradiuarius' death. Another very fine specimen of the late period, 1734, was also owned by him, a Violin of grand proportions, in a high state of preservation, and of the richest varnish. This instrument is numbered with those of W. Tyssen Amhurst, Esq., and forms one of the engravings. The Guarnerius Violins that he possessed were of a very high class. On Plate 13 will be found an engraving of one of them, which has the scroll of the celebrated "King Joseph" upon it, while "the King" has appropriated the scroll of his rival. They were exchanged by a freak of a former owner. Their merits are about equal, so no great mischief was done by substituting the one for the other. This instrument is also numbered with those of W. Tyssen Amhurst, Esq. No. 1 Plate 14 was another of Mr. Fountain's Violins, and much valued from its exceptional preservation. Besides these may be mentioned a very small Violin by Joseph Guarnerius, probably unique, which instrument was exhibited among the Cremonese Violins at the South Kensington Museum in 1872, together with another of the same size by Stradiuarius, and a third by the brothers Amati.
3The number of rarities brought together by the late Mr. James Goding, was in every respect
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.