The ''Alard–Baron Knoop Stradivarius'' of 1715 is an antique violin made by luthier

Antonio Stradivari Antonio Stradivari (, also , ; – 18 December 1737) was an Italian luthier and a craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas and harps. The Latinized form of his surname, '' Stradivarius'', as well as the collo ...

of Cremona (1644–1737). It was made during Stradivari's golden period and is regarded as the "finest of the fine," and ''nec plus ultra'' by the W.E. Hill & Sons. ''The Alard'' has the original neck with the initials "PS" found in the mortise of the head believed to be those of son, Paolo Stradivari. The Hill brothers conclude this violin is one of the instruments that came into Paolo's possession upon the death of his brother Francesco in 1742. The ''Alard Stradivarius'' receives its name from French violinist

Jean-Delphin Alard Jean-Delphin Alard (8 March 181522 February 1888) was a French violinist, composer, and teacher. He was the son-in-law of Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, and had Pablo de Sarasate amongst his students. Biography Alard was born in Bayonne, the son of a ...

, its most famed owner. Upon the publication of the Hill brothers' work on Stradivari in 1902, ''The Alard'' was in the possession of Baron Knoop (1846–1918). The instrument sold at auction in 1981 to a collector in

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...

for US$1.2 million. In the 19th century leading French violin maker

Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (7 October 1798 – 19 March 1875) was a French luthier, businessman, inventor and winner of many awards. His workshop made over 3,000 instruments. Early life Vuillaume was born in Mirecourt, where his father and g ...

made a close copy of the Alard, which today is played by American virtuoso

Hilary Hahn Hilary Hahn (born November 27, 1979) is an American violinist. She has performed throughout the world as a soloist with leading orchestras and conductors and as a recitalist. She is an avid supporter of contemporary classical music, and several ...

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* 1715 musical instruments Stradivari violins Stradivari instruments {{violin-stub

See also

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