18th Century, Labeled Stradivarius, 4/4 Antique Violin, Grafted Neck, 1741 For Sale

I bought this from the estate sale of an old Italian guy in Long Island, New York, who purchased this instrument, along with several others, in 1947. He died in 1967 and these just sat collecting dust for the past 50 + years on a book shelf in his home until recently his family was cleaning out and decided to sell them off. This violin has a grafted neck, bushed pegs. The length of the back is about 359-360mm. The violin is for restoration or for parts, although it is also playable in its current condition, because I think at some point in time, maybe 100 years ago, it was revarnished. The varnish in the inner crevasses of the scroll look to be original, whereas the varnish on the cheeks of the scroll box and the rest of the violin looks very different. I might be wrong, but I don\'t think it is the same, but you be the judge of that...just my perceptions... The violin has a Stradivarius label and I think the date on the label is 1741, although it is very difficult to tell for sure. The violin seems to have willow blocks as well as willow linings, and the violin has pins in the blocks near the purling on the back, one on each side of the center seam at opposite ends of the back. I was told by someone this could be a violin by Omobono Stradivarius, one of Stradivarius\'s sons who completed, pieced together, and also made many violins toward the end of and after Antonio Stradivarius\'s life. The size, elongated corners, and bulkiness of the scroll are all characteristic of both Strad\'s 1680\'s to 1690\'s long-Strad model, as well as other violins made by his sons. Either way, it is a very high quality, very interesting instrument that deserves consideration. Please let me know if you have any questions or need other photos or any sort. The fingerboard nut, as well as the pegs, are in a case and will be shipped together with the violin. Thank you.
International shipping will be the actual shipping cost plus the cost of insurance.

On Feb-07-16 at 13:47:43 PST, seller added the following information:

I purchased it from the estate sale of Mario A. Porazzi. He worked on Wall Street in New York back in 1947. He was a student of Joseph Allegro who was a friend and collegue of Ferdinand Carri, founder of The New York Institute for Violin Playing, Piano and Vocal Culture. He was the author of Special Scales Study that was lauded when published. The violin was purchased from R.N. Chittolini, Inc., Rare Old Violins, February 19, 1947. He later passed away in 1967, leaving the collection to collect dust until recently when the family members decided to start selling his things off. I have copies of the original receipts...

On Feb-07-16 at 14:02:10 PST, seller added the following information:

P.s. On the receipt from R.N. Chittolini, it says that it is a 1744 Stradivari...He also had several other very fine violins including Carcassi, Storioni, Antonio Mariani, and many fine bows...

On Feb-07-16 at 14:32:32 PST, seller added the following information:

P.s.s. Apparently, R.N. Chittolini was a well-know collector and violin dealer in New York City back in that era, as I have found his name coming up quite a bit in Tarisio, Christies, Skinner, and Sotheby\'s archives as being the previous owner of many of the fine violins they have sold... Here is just one of the archive pages from Tarisio showing the many istruments belonging to this man they have sold at sale: />On Feb-07-16 at 15:00:51 PST, seller added the following information:

Label says \"Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis faciebat anno 1744,\" apparently, after looking again more closely...it is still very hard to read, but it could be a 44 after the 17, so maybe he had it right, but still can\'t say for sure...