The ''Dolphin Stradivarius'' or ''Delfino Stradivarius'' of 1714 is an
antique
An antique ( la, antiquus; 'old', 'ancient') is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely ...
violin
The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...
made by Italian
luthier
A luthier ( ; AmE also ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments that have a neck and a sound box. The word "luthier" is originally French and comes from the French word for lute. The term was originally used for makers o ...
Antonio Stradivari
Antonio Stradivari (, also , ; – 18 December 1737) was an Italian luthier and a craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas and harps. The Latinized form of his surname, ''Stradivarius'', as well as the colloq ...
of
Cremona
Cremona (, also ; ; lmo, label= Cremunés, Cremùna; egl, Carmona) is a city and ''comune'' in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po river in the middle of the ''Pianura Padana'' ( Po Valley). It is the capital of th ...
. This violin was once owned and played by the virtuoso
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz (; December 10, 1987) was a Russian-born American violinist. Born in Vilnius, he moved while still a teenager to the United States, where his Carnegie Hall debut was rapturously received. He was a virtuoso since childhood. Fritz ...
(1901–1987). The owner in the late 19th century, George Hart, who was an instrument dealer in London, named the violin ''Dolphin'' as its striking appearance and colouring of its back reminded him of a dolphin.
;Provenance
* 1862: purchased by Mr. C. G. Meier for
FRF6,500 (
GB£260)
* 1868: purchased by George Hart for GB£200.
* ''unk'': purchased by Louis D'Egville
* ''unk'': re-purchased by George Hart.
* 1875: purchased by John Adam for GB£625.
* ''unk'': at the dispersal of the Adams collection, the violin became the property of David Laurie.
* 1882: purchased by Mr. Richard Bennett for GB£1,100.
* 1951: acquired by
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz (; December 10, 1987) was a Russian-born American violinist. Born in Vilnius, he moved while still a teenager to the United States, where his Carnegie Hall debut was rapturously received. He was a virtuoso since childhood. Fritz ...
.
* 21st century: Japanese violinist Akiko Suwanai and Taiwanese-Australian violinist Ray Chen
The ''Dolphin'' is currently owned by the
Nippon Music Foundation
The Nippon Music Foundation (NMF) is an organisation under the supervision of the Arts and Culture Promotion Division, Agency for Cultural Affairs, a special body of the Japanese Ministry of Education. Established 3 March 1972, its stated purpose ...
on loan to violinist
Ray Chen
Ray Chen (born 6 March 1989) is a Taiwanese-Australian violinist. He was the first prize winner of the 2009 Queen Elisabeth Competition and the 2008 International Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition.
Career
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Chen began ...
.
See also
*
Stradivarius
A Stradivarius is one of the violins, violas, cellos and other string instruments built by members of the Italian family Stradivari, particularly Antonio Stradivari (Latin: Antonius Stradivarius), during the 17th and 18th centuries. They are co ...
References
*
External links
Dolphin Stradivariusin the Cozio Archive at tarisio.com
1714 works
Stradivari violins
Stradivari instruments
{{violin-stub