Instrument

  • ID: 237
  • Type: violin
  • Maker: Antonio Stradivari
  • Year built: 1679
  • City: Cremona
  • Name: Hellier
 
Back: One-piece of broad curl
Ribs: of wood similar to back, but of narrower curl
Scroll: of wood similar to back
Front: of fine grain, opening slightly toward the flanks
Body Length: 35.6 cm.
Upper Bout: 16.95 cm.
Center Bout: 11.2 cm.
Lower Bout: 21 cm.

Photos

Click on a thumbnail to view the full-size image.

  • front
  • back
  • side
  • f-hole

Iconography Index

"Antonio Stradivari 'Hellier' 1679", Roger Hargrave, The Strad, September, 1987, 1987: Color photos (side & scroll).

"Eighteenth-Century Connections Through Musical Instruments", Gary Sturm, VSA Proceedings, Vol. IX, No. 2, 1987, 1987: Black-and-white photos (front, back, scroll & f-hole).

"Exhibition of Violins and Bows in the Smithsonian Collection", Gary Sturm, VSA Proceedings, Vol. V, No. 2, Spring, 1979, 1979: Black-and-white photos (front, back, side, scroll & f-hole).

"Guided Tour of the Library of Congress Collection of Stringed Instruments", Robert Bein, VSA Proceedings, Vol. XVII, No. 2 November 4-7, 1999, 1999: Black-and-white photos (front, back, side, scroll & f-hole).

"Ne Plus Ultra", John Dilworth, The Strad, December, 1987, 1987: Color photos (front & back).

"Poster supplement", The Strad, September, 1987, 1987: Color photos (front, back & side).

"The Henry Hottinger Collection", The Strad, October, 1965, 1965: Black-and-white photos (front, back, side, scroll & f-hole).

1a triennale internazionale degli strumenti ad arco, Cremona, 1976: Black-and-white photos (front & back).

36 Famous Italian Violins, Alex Wasinski, Herman Gordon, New York, 1975: Color photos (front & back).

A Thousand Mornings of Music, Arnold Gingrich, Crown Publishers, New York, 1970: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side).

Antonio Stradivari: l'estetica sublime, Maurizio Villa, Consorzio Liutai Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 2011: Color photos (front, back, side & scroll).

Antonius Stradivarius (Balfoort), Dirk J. Balfoort, The Continental Book Company, Stockholm, 1945: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side).

Antonius Stradivarius (volumes I-IV), Jost Thöne & Jan Röhrmann (editors), photos by Jan Röhrmann, instrument descriptions by Alessandra Barabaschi, Jost Thöne Verlag, Cologne, 2010: Color photos (front, back, side, scroll & detail of C-bout & f-hole). Order

Antonius Stradivarius, Cremona 1679, Ex-Hellier, Machold Rare Violins, 1998: Color photos (front, back, side & scroll).

Beautiful Italian Violins, Karel Jalovec, Paul Hamlyn, London, 1963: Color photos (front, back, side & label).

Berühmte Geigen und ihre Schicksale, P. J. Tonger, Köln, 1919: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side).

Capolavori di Antonio Stradivari, Charles Beare, Arnoldo Mondadori S.p.A., Milan, 1987: Black-and-white photo (f-hole).

Capolavori di Antonio Stradivari, Charles Beare, Arnoldo Mondadori S.p.A., Milan, 1987: Color photos (front & back).

Cremona in Seoul: 1962-1993, The Andrea Bang Hall of String & Natural Coating, Seoul, 1993: Color photos (front, back & scroll).

Die Geigen und Lautenmacher vom Mitteralter bis zur Gegenwart, Willibald Leo von Lütgendorff, Frankfurter Verlags-Anstalt, Frankfurt am Main, 1922: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side). Order

Die Geigen und Lautenmacher vom Mitteralter bis zur Gegenwart, Willibald Leo von Lütgendorff, Frankfurter Verlags-Anstalt, Frankfurt am Main, 1922: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side). Order

Evelyn & Herbert Axelrod Stringed Instrument Collection, Herbert Axelrod, 2002: Color photos (front & back).

How Many Strads?, Ernest N. Doring, William Lewis & Son, Chicago, 1945: Black-and-white photos (front, back, side, scroll $-f-hole).

Italian Violin Makers (1964), Karel Jalovec, Paul Hamlyn, London, 1964: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side).

Italian Violin-Makers (1952), Karel Jalovec, Orbis, Prague, 1952: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side).

Italian Violin-Makers (1952), Karel Jalovec, Orbis, Prague, 1952: Color photos (front, back & side).

Italienische Geigenbauer (1957), Karel Jalovec, Artia, Prague, 1957: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side).

La Casa Nuziale: The Home of Antonio Stradivari, 1667-1680, Arnaldo Baruzzi, W. E. Hill & Sons, London, 1962: Black-and-white photos (front, back, side, scroll & f-hole).

Loan Exhibition of Stringed Instruments and Bows Commemorating the 70th Birthday of Simone Fernando Sacconi, Schuler Verlagsgesellschaft, Stuttgart, 1966: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side).

Meisterwerke Italienischer Geigenbaukunst, Fridolin Hamma, Hamma & Co., 1932: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side). Order

Stradivari Varnish: Scientific Analysis of his Finishing Technique on Selected Instruments, Stephen-Peter Greiner, 2010: Color photos (front, back, side, scroll and ultra-violet).

Stradivari, Stewart Pollens, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2010: Color photos (front, back, side & scroll).

The Classic Bowed Stringed Instruments from the Smithsonian Institution, Gakken Co., Tokyo, 1986: Color photos (front, back, side & scroll).

The Henry Hottinger Collection, Rembert Wurlitzer, Inc., New York, 1966: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side). Order

The Miracle Makers, Bein & Fushi, Chicago, 1998: Color photos (front, back, side & scroll).

The 'Secrets' of Stradivari, Simone F. Sacconi, Eric Blot Edizioni, Cremona, 2000: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side).

The Violin: Its physical and acoustic principles, Paolo Peterlongo, Paul Elek, London, 1979: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side).

Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari 1644-1737, Herbert K. Goodkind, Larchmont, New York, 1972: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side).

W. E. Hill & Sons Photographic Archive: Black-and-white photos (E12, Z433 - front, back, scroll, f-hole & C-bout).

We Love Stradivari, NHK, 1988: Color photos (front, back, side & scroll).

World of Strings, Fall, 1975, William Moennig & Son, Philadelphia, 1975: Black-and-white photos (front, back & side).


Notes

"As regards the dimensions, it differs from any other violin seen by us dated before 1684-85; these proportions were, in fact, never at any later period exceeded. Thus we see that Stradivari was already contemplating that change of proportions to which he was more generally to give effect after 1685. The perfect symmetry of the head, and the position and admirable design and cutting of the "f" holes, are also in advance of any of his contemporaneous work known to us. On the other hand, the model, heavy edge and small purfling are thoroughly characteristic of his early work, and the whole presents a heaviness and solidity of construction such as we may almost venture to say borders on clumsiness. We may here incidentally remark that this violin shows that Stradivari occasionally enjoyed rich patronage previous to 1680, for he received no, ordinary remuneration for the making of such an instrument."
Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work (1644-1737), W. Henry, Arthur F. & Alfred E. Hill, William E. Hill & Sons, London, 1902.
The 'Hellier' and the instrument known as the Spanish Stradivari, dated 1679 and 1687 respectively, have backs of broad curl in one piece; the latter is exceptionally handsome, and both are of wood of foreign i.e. non-Italian, growth.
Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work (1644-1737), W. Henry, Arthur F. & Alfred E. Hill, William E. Hill & Sons, London, 1902.
Remarkable for its somewhat unusual large proportions and general heaviness of structure.
Antonio Stradivari and His Instruments, William Henley, Amati Publishing, Ltd., Sussex, 1961.
One of 10 surviving inlaid instruments by Stradivari.
Capolavori di Antonio Stradivari, Charles Beare, Arnoldo Mondadori S.p.A., Milan, 1987.
On loan to Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum since 2004.
"Classy Visitors To Vienna Museum", The Strad, January, 2004, 2004.
Instrument #85 in the South Kensington Special Exhibit of 1872.
Catalogue of the Special Exhibition at South Kensington, England, Carl Engel, London, 1872.
Instrument #1081 at the Special Loan Exhibition at Fishmongers Hall, London in 1904.
Catalog for the Special Loan Exhibition of Musical Instruments, Manuscripts, Portraits and other Mementos, Fishmonger's Hall, London, June-July, 1904.

Provenance

Owner Owned From Owned In Owned Till Price paid
Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod   1998      For members only 
Alfredo Halegua    1993     
...         
Thomas M. Roberts (Memphis)  1979      For members only 
Rembert Wurlitzer Inc.  1965    1979   
Henry Hottinger (New York)  1957    1965  For members only 
Rembert Wurlitzer Inc.  1957    1957   
H. E. Morris (Shanghai)  1932      For members only 
W.E. Hill & Sons  1925    1932  For members only 
Oscar Bondy (Vienna)      1925   
Hamma & Co. (Stuttgart)  1912      For members only 
W.E. Hill & Sons  1910    1912   
Colonel Shaw-Hellier  1890    1910  For members only 
Charles James Oldham (Brighton)  1885    1890   
George Crompton (Manchester, England)  1875    1885   
Colonel Shaw-Hellier    1872  1875   
...         
Sir Edward Hellier         
...         
Sir Samuel Hellier of Wombourne  1734       
...         

Current owner Current owner
Indicates that the owner is or was also a musician Indicates that the owner is or was also a musician

Certificates

Certificate: W. E. Hill & Sons, London, January 21, 1957

Letter: W. E. Hill & Sons, London, January 21, 1957

Letter: Rembert Wurlitzer, New York, January 21, 1957

Certificate: Rembert Wurlitzer, New York, January 18, 1957

Certificate: Machold Rare Violins, Bremen, Zurich, New York, Vienna, April 27, 1998

References

1a triennale internazionale degli strumenti ad arco, Cremona, 1976.

36 Famous Italian Violins, Alex Wasinski, Herman Gordon, New York, 1975.

A Thousand Mornings of Music, Arnold Gingrich, Crown Publishers, New York, 1970.

Antonio Stradivari and His Instruments, William Henley, Amati Publishing, Ltd., Sussex, 1961.

Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work (1644-1737), W. Henry, Arthur F. & Alfred E. Hill, William E. Hill & Sons, London, 1902.

Antonio Stradivari: l'estetica sublime, Maurizio Villa, Consorzio Liutai Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 2011.

Antonius Stradivarius (Balfoort), Dirk J. Balfoort, The Continental Book Company, Stockholm, 1945.

Antonius Stradivarius (volumes I-IV), Jost Thöne & Jan Röhrmann (editors), photos by Jan Röhrmann, instrument descriptions by Alessandra Barabaschi, Jost Thöne Verlag, Cologne, 2010. Order

Antonius Stradivarius, Cremona 1679, Ex-Hellier, Machold Rare Violins, 1998.

Beautiful Italian Violins, Karel Jalovec, Paul Hamlyn, London, 1963.

Berühmte Geigen und ihre Schicksale, P. J. Tonger, Köln, 1919.

Capolavori di Antonio Stradivari, Charles Beare, Arnoldo Mondadori S.p.A., Milan, 1987.

Catalog for the Special Loan Exhibition of Musical Instruments, Manuscripts, Portraits and other Mementos, Fishmonger's Hall, London, June-July, 1904.

Catalogue of the Special Exhibition at South Kensington, England, Carl Engel, London, 1872.

Cremona in Seoul: 1962-1993, The Andrea Bang Hall of String & Natural Coating, Seoul, 1993.

Die Geigen und Lautenmacher vom Mitteralter bis zur Gegenwart, Willibald Leo von Lütgendorff, Frankfurter Verlags-Anstalt, Frankfurt am Main, 1922. Order

Die Geigen und Lautenmacher vom Mitteralter bis zur Gegenwart, Willibald Leo von Lütgendorff, Frankfurter Verlags-Anstalt, Frankfurt am Main, 1922. Order

Evelyn & Herbert Axelrod Stringed Instrument Collection, Herbert Axelrod, 2002.

How Many Strads?, Ernest N. Doring, William Lewis & Son, Chicago, 1945.

Italian Violin Makers (1964), Karel Jalovec, Paul Hamlyn, London, 1964.

Italian Violin-Makers (1952), Karel Jalovec, Orbis, Prague, 1952.

Italienische Geigenbauer (1957), Karel Jalovec, Artia, Prague, 1957.

La Casa Nuziale: The Home of Antonio Stradivari, 1667-1680, Arnaldo Baruzzi, W. E. Hill & Sons, London, 1962.

Loan Exhibition of Stringed Instruments and Bows Commemorating the 70th Birthday of Simone Fernando Sacconi, Schuler Verlagsgesellschaft, Stuttgart, 1966.

Meisterwerke Italienischer Geigenbaukunst, Fridolin Hamma, Hamma & Co., 1932. Order

Stradivari Varnish: Scientific Analysis of his Finishing Technique on Selected Instruments, Stephen-Peter Greiner, 2010.

Stradivari, Stewart Pollens, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2010.

The Classic Bowed Stringed Instruments from the Smithsonian Institution, Gakken Co., Tokyo, 1986.

The Henry Hottinger Collection, Rembert Wurlitzer, Inc., New York, 1966. Order

The Jacques Français Rare Violins, Inc. Photographic Archive and Business Records, 1844-1998, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C..

The Miracle Makers, Bein & Fushi, Chicago, 1998.

The 'Secrets' of Stradivari, Simone F. Sacconi, Eric Blot Edizioni, Cremona, 2000.

The Violin: Its physical and acoustic principles, Paolo Peterlongo, Paul Elek, London, 1979.

Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari 1644-1737, Herbert K. Goodkind, Larchmont, New York, 1972.

W. E. Hill & Sons Photographic Archive.

W. E. Hill Business Records (1850 - 1990).

We Love Stradivari, NHK, 1988.

World of Strings, Fall, 1975, William Moennig & Son, Philadelphia, 1975.

"All Strung Out Over an Antique Violin", Louise Roug, The Los Angeles Times, August 29, 2003.

"Antonio Stradivari 'Hellier' 1679", Roger Hargrave, The Strad, September, 1987, 1987.

"Classy Visitors To Vienna Museum", The Strad, January, 2004, 2004.

"Eighteenth-Century Connections Through Musical Instruments", Gary Sturm, VSA Proceedings, Vol. IX, No. 2, 1987, 1987.

"Exhibition of Violins and Bows in the Smithsonian Collection", Gary Sturm, VSA Proceedings, Vol. V, No. 2, Spring, 1979, 1979.

"Guided Tour of the Library of Congress Collection of Stringed Instruments", Robert Bein, VSA Proceedings, Vol. XVII, No. 2 November 4-7, 1999, 1999.

"Ne Plus Ultra", John Dilworth, The Strad, December, 1987, 1987.

"Poster supplement", The Strad, September, 1987, 1987.

"Sound Value", Robert Lewin, The Strad, December, 1987, 1987.

"The Henry Hottinger Collection", The Strad, October, 1965, 1965.

http://www.theotherlookofcolombia.com/news.html