Violin by Nicola Gagliano, 1735

Nicola Gagliano's violins were inspired by the work of his father Alessandro Gagliano and master violinmaker Antonio Stradivari. Henry Ford purchased this Gagliano violin in the 1920s through Ole H. Bryant, a Boston violinmaker who served as principal repairer for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. This violin is said to have been once owned by a young Arthur Fielder, later conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra.