Stradivarius
Priceless Italian instrument
A Stradivarius is a violin, viola, or cello made by Antonio Stradivari, the Italian craftsman whose 17th- and 18th-century instruments are considered the finest ever produced.
Surviving Stradivariuses—roughly 650 exist—command prices in the millions.
The name has become shorthand for supreme craftsmanship in any field: He's playing a Stradivarius; the Stradivarius of espresso machines.
Bowed string instrument
- fiddleAdjust restlessly; folk violin
- violaMidrange bowed instrument
- celloDeep-voiced bowed instrument
- stringsThin flexible lines
bow · soundpost · fingerboard · tailpiece · purfling · scroll · f-holes · bridge
Stringed instrument craftsperson
- handcraftedMade manually, not machined
- woodworkingCraft of shaping lumber
- artisanSkilled manual tradesperson
- carvingShaping by cutting away
joinery · precision · masterpiece · meticulous · workshop · tools · chisel · sanding
Northern Italian violin-making city
- AntonioRomance language name
- 1700sYears 1700-1799
- ItalianOf or from Rome's country
- legacyWhat's passed down
historic · aged · preserved · restored · patina · antique · heirloom · timeless
Supremely accomplished performer
- concertoSolo-and-orchestra composition
- soloistUnaccompanied performer
- PaganiniFamed nineteenth-century violinist
- chamberEnclosed room or cavity
sonata · quartet · orchestra · maestro · recital · concert · hall · acoustics
Competitive public sale
- provenanceRecord of ownership
- millionOne thousand thousands
- Sotheby'sMajor fine art auctioneer
- Christie'sMajor art auction firm
investment · authentication · appraisal · collector · museum · rarity · priceless · certificate
violin
Bowed string instrument
strings · bow · soundpost · fingerboard · tailpiece · purfling · scroll · f-holes · bridge · chinrest
luthier
Stringed instrument craftsperson
- handcraftedMade manually, not machined
- woodworkingCraft of shaping lumber
- artisanSkilled manual tradesperson
carving · joinery · precision · masterpiece · meticulous · workshop · tools · chisel · sanding · inlay
Cremona
Northern Italian violin-making city
legacy · historic · aged · preserved · restored · patina · antique · heirloom · timeless · baroque
virtuoso
Supremely accomplished performer
- concertoSolo-and-orchestra composition
- soloistUnaccompanied performer
- PaganiniFamed nineteenth-century violinist
chamber · sonata · quartet · orchestra · maestro · recital · concert · hall · acoustics · bow
auction
Competitive public sale
- provenanceRecord of ownership
- millionOne thousand thousands
- Sotheby'sMajor fine art auctioneer
Christie's · investment · authentication · appraisal · collector · museum · rarity · priceless · certificate · ownership
- violinsfiddle
- violinviolin, bowing, violin bow, strings, fingerboard
- clothing storesboutique, department store, dress shop, outlet store, discount store
- Baroque ItalyVenice, Naples, Rome, Florence, Milan
- instrument historyantique instruments, instrument makers, electric guitar, electronic instruments
- Italian MusicVerdi, Puccini, Vivaldi, Rossini, Pavarotti
Stradivariusdime-a-dozen
Too common to value
throwaway · junk · worthless · commonplace · ubiquitous