Violin bow
Date1700 ca.
Place MadeCremona, Italy, Europe
Serial No.none
SignedunsignedMarkingsMarquetry hardwood Royal Arms of Spain and incised and ivory-mastic-filled monogram C. A. R. within a circle
DescriptionThis bow was once in the possession of the Spanish Royal Court and the frog displays the armorials of Charles IV of Spain (ruled 1788-1808). The Spanish Court owned other instruments by Stradivari, who long sought their patronage. Inlay on the bow appears to be later, dating to the period of when the Italian composer Gaetano Brunetti, a student of Boccherini, was court musician to Charles IV. It is likely that this bow was used to perform some of the composer's prolific output of chamber music.
Stick: fluted; round in lower portion; snakewood; inlaid with multiple three-ply strips of colored hardwood inlay, possibly later
Head: swan head
Frog: snakewood; open; inlaid with later marquetry hardwood Royal Arms of Spain toward player, bone mastic-filled incised monogram away from player; inlaid with multiple three-ply strips of colored hardwood inlay along center line at back and bottom of frog
Adjuster: snakewood; inlaid with multiple three-ply strips of colored hardwood inlay, possibly later
It is unknown if this bow was originally designed for a screw tightening mechanism, which it has now, or if that is a later adaptation. If it was converted from a clip-in frog, the bow might have been substantially shortened.
DimensionsStick length: 678 mm
Head height: 20.4 mm
Head width (bottom): 7.4 mm
Stick width near tip: 5.8 mm (top to bottom); 5.7 mm (side to side)
Stick width near middle: 7.4 mm (top to bottom); 7.4 mm (side to side)
Stick width at end of handle: 8.6 mm (top to bottom); 8.7 mm (side to side)
Frog height: 24.7 mm (front); 19.2 mm (back)
Frog length (top): 47.2 mm
Frog length (bottom): 51.7 mm
Frog width (top): 8.4 mm (front); 8.4 mm (back)
Frog width (bottom): 8.3 mm (front); 8.5 mm (back)
Weight: 53.4 grams
ProvenanceCharles IV of Spain (see further details in Sotheby's catalog 11/22/1989); W. E. Hill & Sons, London (until 11/22/1989). According to St. George "Mr. Alfred Hill procured this bow with some difficulty in Madrid and was able to trace its pedigree in so far as that it was originally with the instruments made by Stradivari for the Spanish Court. There is just a shadow of possibility that it may be the actual work of that most glorious craftsman of Cremona."
Purchased on behalf of the National Music Museum by Tony Bingham at Sotheby's auction, 11/22/1989
Published ReferencesHenry St. George, The Bow: Its History, Manufacture and Use (1922), p. 26, pl. 1.
W. Henry Hill, Arthur F. Hill, and Alfred E. Hill, Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work (1644-1737), reprint of 1902 edition (New York: Dover Publications, 1963), p. 208.
Charles Beare, Capolavori di Antonio Stradivari (Milan: Arnoldo Mondadori, 1987), No. 46 in catalog of Stradivari Exhibition, Cremona, 1987.
"Recent Acquisitions Frogs and Swans and Snakes and Things . . .." The Shrine to Music Museum Newsletter 18, No. 4 (July 1991), p. 4.
André P. Larson. Beethoven & Berlioz, Paris & Vienna: Musical Treasures from the Age of Revolution & Romance 1789-1848. With essay by John Koster. Exhibition catalog, Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, September 12-November 2, 2003. Vermillion: National Music Museum 2003. p. 29.
Stewart Pollens, Stradivari. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010, pp. 132-133.
Credit LineArne B. and Jeanne F. Larson Fund, 1989
Object number04882
On View
Not on view
1680-1750 ca.
