This beautiful cello was made by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume as part of a quartet for Count Dmitry Sheremetev. It is a rare copy of an early Stradivari of large size, and the form corresponds closely with that of the ‘Cristiani’, ‘Stauffer’ Stradivari of 1700. The arching is fuller than in the usual post-1700 B-form flattened style of the Stradivari, and Vuillaume’s habitual use of ebony for the purfling gives it a personal touch. The varnish is rich and dark, and the back is emblazoned with the Sheremetev coat of arms. includes measurements

‘The wood is remarkable, the model intriguing, the decoration fascinating and the label and signatures intact and authentic.’ – John Dilworth in the June 2013 issue of The Strad.