SKINNER TO AUCTION RARE STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN
IN AUCTION OF FINE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
BOSTON, Mass. - September 25, 2006
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www.skinnerinc.com - Skinner, one of the nation's leading auction houses of antiques and fine art, will hold an auction of Fine Musical Instruments on Sunday, October 15, 2006 in its Boston gallery. The sale, which will begin at 12 noon, features over 325 lots of fretted and stringed instruments, led by a previously undocumented violin by maker Antonio Stradivari. It will be the first time a Stradivarius violin will be offered at auction in the U.S. outside of New York City.
Stradivarius Violin
Made in Cremona Italy, c.1720, the Stradivarius violin (lot 38) may be the last in existence from the maker's so-called "Golden Period" which has not been catalogued or published in violin literature. The instrument has not been in circulation for over a century and has never been offered on the open market. In unrestored condition, it is estimated to sell for $650,000-$850,000.
Throughout much of the late 17th/early 18th century, Antonio Stradivari was perhaps the best known and most highly esteemed violin maker in the world. Stradivari's "Golden Period" violins date from 1700 to around 1720. At that time, Stradivari was at the height of his success as a violinmaker to royal courts all over Europe. His instruments from this period were made using the finest materials, the most successful design for sound projection, and the most beautiful workmanship of all Stradivari violins. Stradivari's reputation and his works have stood the test of time. Today, instruments made by his hand are arguably the finest made and most highly sought after instruments in the world.
The date of this Stradivarius (c. 1720) and its well-documented provenance since that time are significant to the value and desirability of the piece. The first recorded owner of the violin was a Monsieur Cuelenaere, Director of the Conservatory of Douai, France, who purchased the instrument in nearby in Lille, France. It then passed to his son in 1894 who was already a well-known violinist in concert and opera theaters throughout Europe. He played for the Concert Colonne at the Odeon Theater in Paris and at the Paris Opera. After his death, it was sold to the Vatelot shop, a dealer of fine musical instruments in Paris. The violin remained in a vault until the early 1960s, when it was sold to Lorand Fenyves, the celebrated concert soloist, recording artist, and professor of violin. The violin comes to Skinner from the family of Fenyves, who consigned it for auction.
David Bonsey, Director of Skinner’s Fine Musical Instruments department notes, "There are only 530 catalogued and illustrated Stradivari instruments known to exist. We really don’t know the number of undiscovered ones still out there, but this is one of them. What makes this instrument a true collector’s piece is the fact that it is completely unrestored. The violin has been left relatively undisturbed for many years, only being played by its last owner. That makes it that much more desirable for true connoisseurs."
Other Stringed Instruments and Bows
The auction features two fine French bows also owned by Fenyves, one probably from the workshop of Nicolas Maire (lot 41, $8,000-10,000), and the other of the Peccatte School (lot 42, $10,000-15,000). Highlights also include an exceptional violin by Giuseppe Rocca, 1864, a Stradivari copy and the property of a concert artist (lot 67, $120,000-150,000), as well as a French bow of the Peccatte school owned by the same musician (lot 55, $12,000-15,000).
The fine group of stringed instruments also includes two violins from the Gagliano family, the first dated 1777 and labeled Nicola Gagliano (lot 103, $100,000-120,000). The second, an instrument by Raffaele and Antonio, c. 1830, is highly desirable, its clean, unretouched surface with the original varnish (lot 102, $30,000-50,000). Two violins by Jean Baptiste Vuillaume, c. 1850, also will be offered, one a Stradivari copy, the other a copy of Joseph Guarneri del Gesu (lots 52 and 68, $40,000-60,000 each). Additional highlights include modern Italian violins by Melagari (lot 37, $20,000-30,000) and Marchetti (lots 35 and 325, $18,000-24,000 and $6,000-10,000 respectively), as well as examples by Giorgio Gatti (lot 101, $12,000-16,000), Carlo Ravizza (lot 111, $3,000-5,000), Vincenzo Cavani (lot 108, $10,000-15,000), and Pietro Borghi (lot 109, $6,000-8,000).
Bows offer both musician and collector a broad selection, including a gold mounted violin bow by James Tubbs, c. 1890 (lot 58, $5,000-7,000), a silver mounted violin bow by François Nicolas Voirin (lot 57, $3,000-5,000), and a silver mounted viola bow by Nicolas Maire, c. 1860 (lot 80, $15,000-18,000). Others include a silver mounted violoncello bow, c. 1920, by André Vigneron (lot 113, $4,000-6,000), a silver mounted violin bow, c. 1850, attributed to Domenique Peccatte (lot 55, $15,000-20,000), and a silver mounted violin bow by Charles Peccatte (lot 135, $6,000-8,000), as well as several bows by Albert Nurnberger.
Fretted Instruments
Rare and unusual among the fretted instruments in the sale is a solidbody electric Gibson Explorer, 1959/63 (lot 31, $60,000-80,000). Called a "clean-up" guitar, where parts manufactured from an earlier year were used to create a new guitar, the Explorer was at first a commercial flop. Gibson resurrected it a few years after its introduction, and it has now become an extremely sought-after instrument. This example comes to auction from the original owner, is 100% original, and is in excellent condition. It will be sold accompanied by its original case.
Rare finds in the auction also include a Fender Telecaster, 1968 (Summer of Love), done in Pink Paisley finish (now highly desirable to collectors) with the requisite nicotine patina (lot 34, $6,000-10,000). "Brad Paisley plays one and we think he needs one showing even more wear to the fingerboard," says Bonsey. The finish around the edges has faded to a wonderful gold patina. Also offered is a 1923 Gibson F-5, Lloyd Loar signed, and complete, although refinished by John Montelone in the 1970s ($50,000-70,000). Rounding out the highlights in this portion of the sale is a classical guitar by the Ramirez workshop, made in 1960 (lot 3, $8,000-10,000). The instrument was once owned by Alvino Rey, 20th century recording artist and pioneer of the electric guitar, and a student of guitar virtuoso Andres Segovia. The guitar was selected for Rey by Segovia.
Previews and Catalogue Information
Previews for the auction will be 12 to 5 p.m., Friday, October 13th, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, October 14th, and 9 to 10:30 a.m., Sunday, October 15th. Illustrated catalogue #2333 is available by mail for $32 ($39 for foreign requests) from the Subscription Department at 978-779-6241 x240. It is also available at the gallery for $29. Prices realized will be available at www.skinnerinc.com during and after the sale. For more information, call 978-779-6241, or visit www.skinnerinc.com. Skinner’s site also allows users to view all lots in the auctions, leave bids, and order catalogues online.
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About Skinner
Skinner, Inc. is one of the nation's leading auction houses for antiques and fine art and the only major auction house headquartered in New England. With expertise in over 20 specialty collecting areas, Skinner draws the interest of buyers from all over the world and its auctions regularly achieve world record prices. Skinner provides a broad range of auction and appraisal services, and it is widely regarded as one of the most trusted names in the auction business. Skinner's appraisal experts regularly appear on the PBS-TV series, Antiques Roadshow, and its specialty departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, Paintings & Prints, English & Continental Furniture & Decorations, Fine Ceramics, Jewelry, Couture, 20th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Art, Fine Judaica, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Science & Technology, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographic Art, and Discovery. Skinner galleries are located in Boston and Bolton, Mass. For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner's web site
www.skinnerinc.com.
