Mark Pashne, The ‘Plowden’ Guarneri del Gesù Violin, 1735

“Our earliest record of this violin dates back to the fifties [1850s] of the last century when it was acquired by the late Mr C.H. Chichele Plowden - perhaps the most reputed amateur of his day - who had formed a Collection of choice instruments comprising, amongst others, four Guarneri, and four Stradivari violins, the present fiddle, christened by its owner ‘The Beauty’ being one of the former.” -1929

Joseph Guarnerius del Gesu:

“The estimate of his total production is not more than 250 violins; there is no positive evidence that he made instruments in any other form, although some violas and at least one violoncello are attributed to him. Approximately 150 violins are known to exist.

Stradivari and Guarnerius are ranked as the greatest of violin makers, and some fine violinists prefer the instruments of Joseph Guarnerius del Gesu to those of Stradivari.”

Audio: the ‘Plowden’ Guarneri 1735, played by Ruggiero Ricci

Also: Guarneri Violin Sold for $10 Million (highest price to date for a violin)

Violin porn: ‘Strad 3d’, CT scans and acoustic analysis of the Plowden Guarneri 1735, and two Strads

NPR: How To CAT-Scan (And Hot-Rod) A Stradivarius

(claytoncubitt)