Instrument Type: Violin
Circa: 1735-1740
Asking Price: SOLD
Maker: Carlo and Michel Angelo Bergonzi
The Violin
This Bergonzi violin is a remarkable instrument, identified only recently as the work of Carlo Bergonzi and his son Michel Angelo, circa 1735 to 1740. The one-piece back is gorgeous, cut on the slab, with faint flames running horizontally across it. The scroll is older still, and Alessandro Gagliano of Naples made it.
John Topham’s dendrochronology dates the wood to 1712. That same source served at least ten Stradivari instruments, including the Messiah. The only non-Stradivari with similar wood he had examined was attributed to Michel Angelo Bergonzi.
The sound is rich, powerful and complex, and the condition is excellent. This Bergonzi violin has a back length of 35.4 cm.
Instruments of this importance rarely reach the market. Because of that, we showed this Bergonzi violin by appointment only. Every part of it, from the wood to the scroll to the voice, tells a piece of a remarkable story in Cremonese and Neapolitan making.
The Maker
Carlo Bergonzi belonged to the great Cremonese generation that followed Stradivari, and many rank him among the finest makers in history. His son Michel Angelo carried the family workshop forward in Cremona.
Collaborative instruments by father and son, from the 1730s and 1740s, draw particular attention for their powerful sound and bold craftsmanship.
So a Bergonzi violin of this period sits among the most important instruments a player or a collector can own. Few names from the post-Stradivari generation carry the same weight today.
Certification
Charles Beare certified this instrument, with letters included, and John Topham’s dendrochronology dates the wood to 1712.
Terms of Sale
This violin has sold, so it is no longer available for purchase. Benning Violins invites you to browse our current catalog of fine instruments. You can also contact us directly to ask about similar pieces.