Instrument

  • ID: 5884
  • Type: small violin
  • Maker: Andrea Amati
  • Year built: 1560-74
  • City: Cremona
  • Name: Portuguese
 
Back: One-piece with a wing in the lower treble bout and painted with the royal coat of arms of King Charles IX
Scroll: not original, by Claude Lebet
Body Length: 34.0 cm.
Center Bout: 10.7 cm.
Ribs: painted with inscription: "PIETATE E IUSTICIA" and the letter "K"
Table: not original, by Claude Lebet
Upper Bout: 15.5 cm.
Lower Bout: 19.5 cm.

Photos

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  • back

Iconography Index

Color photo (back): "Artistic alliance", Roger Hargrave, The Strad, July, 2000, 2000.

Order Color photo (back): Claude Aguttes Instruments Anciens "Cordes et Vent" Auction Catalog, November 24, 2000, Neuilly-sur-Seine, 2000.

Order Color photos (Back & side): Andrea Amati Opera omnia: Les Violons du Roi, Fausto Cacciatori, editor, Consorzo Liutai Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 2007.


Notes

This instrument is one of the 24 violins (12 large and 12 small) ordered by King Charles IX in 1563. The catalog further states that the painting on the back was probably done by Sofonisba Anguilossa, the court painter of Philippe II of Spain, King Charles' brother-in-law. Most of the 38 instruments made by Andrea Amati for the King Charles are thought to have been destroyed during the French Revolution.
Claude Aguttes Instruments Anciens "Cordes et Vent" Auction Catalog, November 24, 2000, Neuilly-sur-Seine, 2000.

Provenance

Owner Owned From Owned In Owned Till Price paid
Claude Lebet     2005     
...         
King Charles IX of France         
...         

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

Auctions

Auction Date Note Estimate Hammer Price
Claude Aguttes, Neuilly-sur-Seine  Nov-24-2000  child's size  500,000 FF - 600,000 FF  For members only 

Including buyer's premium
Current record for maker and instrument type
Record at time of sale for maker and instrument type

References

Order Andrea Amati Opera omnia: Les Violons du Roi, Fausto Cacciatori, editor, Consorzo Liutai Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 2007.

Order Claude Aguttes Instruments Anciens "Cordes et Vent" Auction Catalog, November 24, 2000, Neuilly-sur-Seine, 2000.

"Artistic alliance", Roger Hargrave, The Strad, July, 2000, 2000.

"'The King' Cello and the Painted Decorations on the Amati Instruments Made for the Court of Charles IX of France, 1560-74", Andrew Dipper, VSA Papers, Vol. XX, No. 2, Summer, 2006, 2006.