One of the most famous and controversial violins is in the Hill collection in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England. As the story goes, this violin was sold to Count Cozio di Salabue by one of Stradavari's sons. From the count it passed into the hands of the notorious violin dealer Luigi Tarisio, and then to J. B. Vuillaume in Paris. in 1904 it was purchased by the Hills and eventually found its way into the Ashmolean. What is interesting about this is that, because it was kept in the hands of collectors over the last 280 years, it is in pristine condition. In fact its condition has lead many to conclude that it was not made by Stradivari but perhaps by a later Italian maker, or perhaps Vuillaume himself. Or, another story goes, there was such an instrument but the one in the Ashmolean is a copy, probably by Vuillaume, and the original is somewhere in private hands.
I have seen and measured this instrument and I don't know what the real story is. It is, however, one of the most perfect instruments I have ever seen. The crispness and flow of the lines is truly remarkable. I, like Vuillaume and many before me, have fallen under its spell and now use it as a model of perfection to strive for.
I am pleased to offer instruments carefully modeled on this famous and infamous violin.
I offer this instrument in the baroque setup as pictured, or with modern fittings. This instrument offers a unique opportunity as a baroque violin. When Vuillaume did the modern conversion he chose not to cut off the original neck but rather built up the heel of the neck. The exact dimensions of Strdivari's neck are easy to see.
All instruments are made with the finest materials. The varnish ground is a mineral undercoat as used in Cremona in the 16th c and 17th c. The instrument is colored with a madder lake wash. The varnish is made in this shop with amber resin according to a traditional formula.
- "le Messie"violin - $6,500.00
- Purfling decoration on baroque fingerboard and tailpiece - $225.00