Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ ‘Cessole’ violin 1736 poster
Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ made the ‘Cessole’ violin during his period of full maturity. It bears a label dated 1736, and the character of the instrument fits perfectly with his style in that year. The back is spectacular, with a broad and deep flame extending upwards from the central joint. Includes measurements
'The main character of the violin is an appearance of delicacy, a trait that is generally unexpected for "del Gesù", but which is often found in his instruments before his later period. The body of the violin is a little small, a few millimetres shorter than a standard Stradivari' – Carlo Chiesa in the July 2010 issue of The Strad
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Domenico Montagnana violin 1717 poster
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Montagnana c.1720–Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ c.1742 ‘Paderewski, Wendling’ violin
This is a unique instrument with a body by Montagnana and a top plate by Guarneri 'del Gesù'. Artists such as Vilde Frang, Isabelle Faust and Augustin Dumay have unanimously praised the violin's sound, recognising its unmistakably ‘del Gesù’ character, with dark basses, great projection and a particularly warm and open E string.
'The large Venetian model combined with the distinctive ‘del Gesù’ front arching, well-preserved thickness and f-holes, offers a particularly attractive and inspiring reference model.' - Balthazar Soulier in the January 2025 issue.
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Antonio Stradivari ‘Benvenuti’ Violin 1727 poster
One of the masterpieces of Stradivari’s late period, the ‘Benvenuti’ has had a rich playing history – which makes it all the more remarkable that the instrument remains in superb condition today. This is the first of The Strad's posters to use full-colour micro-CT scans, with all the scanned images actual-size reproductions of the instrument.
'From both the front and rear, the pegbox appears wide and powerful, the fluting remaining quite shallow all over (as in the volute), to deepen only under the throat' – Andrea Zanrè in the December 2016 issue
Full-colour micro-CT scans, with all the scanned images actual-size reproductions of the instrument.
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Carlo Bergonzi ‘Baron Knoop’ violin 1735 poster – FOLDED VERSION
FOLDED VERSION
This violin demonstrates all the hallmarks of Carlo Bergonzi's mature style, as well as the influences of both Antonio Stradivari and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’. Made from top-quality spruce and maple, it shows the exquisite care with which Bergonzi prepared all his finest instruments.
'Bergonzi's varnish has a deep, subdued fire which doesn’t try to emulate the visual effects obtained by his competitors' - Andrea Zanrè in the July 2021 edition of The Strad
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Francesco Rugeri violin 1686
Was the 17th-century maker Francesco Rugeri trained by Nicolò Amati? This violin appears to show the clear influence of the great master, with arching close to Amati's late style and f-holes showing Rugeri's personal interpretation of an Amati model. Conversely, the head seems to anticipate the work of Carlo Bergonzi, some decades later. A fascinating violin by a highly regarded Cremonese maker. Includes measurements.
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Pietro Guarneri of Venice violin 1735 poster
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Carlo Bergonzi ‘Salabue, Martzy’ violin 1733 poster – FOLDED VERSION
FOLDED VERSION
This stunning instrument, still in immaculate condition, bears all the hallmarks of the luthier Carlo Bergonzi, who moved into Antonio Stradivari's workshop following the latter's death. The famed instrument collector Count Cozio di Salabue called it 'my largest and most beautiful Bergonzi'. It was later used as the principal performing instrument of Hungarian virtuoso Johanna Martzy (1924–79).
'The f-holes of the ‘Salabue, Martzy’ are bold and distinctive. In concept, they derive from a Stradivari model but the stems are more angled and the wings are broader' - Jason Price in the July 2024 edition of The Strad.
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Antonio Stradivari ‘Harrison’ violin 1693 poster – FOLDED VERSION
FOLDED VERSION
A perfect example of Stradivari's Long Pattern, the 'Harrison' was for many years the principal performing instrument of Kyung Wha Chung. It is now part of the collection of the National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota, US.
Read more in The Strad
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Antonio Stradivari ‘Benecke’ violin 1694 poster – FOLDED VERSION
FOLDED VERSION
A masterpiece from Stradivari's 'Long Pattern' era, the 1694 'Benecke' remains in an almost pristine state of preservation. It was named for its owner Paul Benecke, a friend of Mendelssohn, and was greatly admired by the Hills, who called it 'probably the finest of the Long Pattern that we know of'. As well as containing full measurements, this poster includes micro-CT scans, thickness and arching maps, and all the information luthiers need to make their own copy.
'In contrast with the earlier production of Stradivari, the refined aesthetic of the ‘Benecke’... communicates a sense of fluidity and softness... which was a primary source of inspiration for other Italian makers working at the beginning of the 20th century, particularly in Milan' - Andrea Zanrè in the July 2020 edition.
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Carlo Bergonzi violin 1736 Poster
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Girolamo Amati II violin 1671 poster – FOLDED VERSION
FOLDED VERSION
The son of Nicolò Amati, Girolamo Amati II was the last instrument maker of the illustrious Amati dynasty. Although he made fewer violins than his forebears, the ones that have survived show the work of a skilled luthier in his prime. This violin, made in the early part of his career, is a pristine example of his craftsmanship and shows many stylistic similarities to the work of his father. It is now housed in the Royal Academy of Music.
'The maple is delicately figured on the back and ribs, and plain for the neck-block. It has been perfectly quarter-cut. Unevenly scattered bearclaw figure ruffles the surface of the one-piece spruce front' – Barbara Meyer in the July 2022 issue
Read more in The Strad
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Pietro Guarneri of Mantua violin 1704 poster
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‘Milanollo’ Stradivari violin 1728 poster
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Alessandro Gagliano ‘Rotondo’ violin 1710 poster
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Antonio Stradivari ‘Cecil’ violin 1724 poster
The 1724 'Cecil' is that rare thing: a genuine Stradivari violin that has gone virtually unreported for the past three centuries. It spent decades in the possession of an Italian family, which means it remains in an excellent state of preservation – the varnish is virtually unblemished and its sound quality is excellent. It was one of the instruments in the collection of Count Cozio di Salabue, and has also been examined and verified by Charles-Eugène Gand and Charles Beare. Despite coming from Stradivari's late period (he was 80 at the time), the hand of the master, rather than that of his sons, is identifiable all over the instrument. The poster includes full measurements, outlines of the back, scroll, f-holes, and front and back archings, as well as thickness maps and the rib heights.
'The varnish is the same deep, rich red–brown seen on great examples of the golden period like the 1721 ‘Lady Blunt’ and 1716 ‘Medici’. It is, apart from the repairs to the front, unadulterated by polish and other accretions that camouflage the texture of so many well-used and restored examples' – John Dilworth in the November 2018 issue of The Strad
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***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***
Nicolas Lupot violin 1808 poster
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Carlo Giuseppe Testore violin c.1703 poster
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Montagnana c.1720–Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ c.1742 ‘Paderewski, Wendling’ violin – FOLDED VERSION
FOLDED VERSION
This is a unique instrument with a body by Montagnana and a top plate by Guarneri 'del Gesù'. Artists such as Vilde Frang, Isabelle Faust and Augustin Dumay have unanimously praised the violin's sound, recognising its unmistakably ‘del Gesù’ character, with dark basses, great projection and a particularly warm and open E string.
'The large Venetian model combined with the distinctive ‘del Gesù’ front arching, well-preserved thickness and f-holes, offers a particularly attractive and inspiring reference model.' - Balthazar Soulier in the January 2025 issue.
***Don't miss our NEW Folded Poster Tailored Bundle. Choose any two or more of The Strad’s folded posters and pay just £9.99 for each. Watch a video of the selection here***
Lachmann Schwechter Guadagnini violin 1776 poster
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G.B. Rogeri violin 1704 poster
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Giuseppe Guarneri ‘filius Andrea’ violin 1705 poster
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‘Muir-Mackenzie’ Stradivari violin 1694 poster
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José Contreras violin 1767 poster
This splendid violin from the so-called ‘Classical Age’ of Spanish violin making might well have been commissioned for King Charles IV. José Contreras (c.1710–82) was one of the greatest luthiers of the era, sometimes referred to as ‘the Spanish Stradivari’. The influence of the Cremonese master can clearly be seen in this fine instrument.
‘The general form of the arching is rounded and slightly bulbous, especially in the middle of the upper and lower bouts. The f-holes are very Stradivarian in form, and generally widely cut and broadly spaced on the front. The lower wings are lightly fluted and the nicks are typically small’ – John Dilworth in the December 2013 issue of The Strad
Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today.
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