The Stradivari cello
The history of the 'Stauffer - former Cristiani' cello by Antonio Stradivari dating back to 1700
Antonio Stradivari 1700 "Stauffer" ex "Cristiani" cello - scrollMuseo del Violino
At the beginning of the 18th century, Antonio Stradivari was a skilled and renowned maker with more than thirty years’ experience in the construction of guitars, lutes, mandolins, viole da gamba, pochettes and harps in addition to violins, violas and cellos.
Museo del Violino - celloMuseo del Violino
We know of about 25 cellos constructed before 1700, made in a large size like the Mediceo once belonging to the Grand Prince of Tuscany and currently preserved in the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence.
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Walk among the masterpieces of classical violinmaking at Museo del Violino, including the Stradivari 1700 cello.
Cello - hall museumMuseo del Violino
It was in 1700 that the Cremonese master decided to reduce the dimensions of his cellos, an intermediate step towards developing the model that today is identified and known as “B form” which he probably started to use from 1707.
MS 272 - designMuseo del Violino
Handwritten annotation by Antonio Stradivari: "measurement for B shape / to make the eyes of the cello"
Drawing used for the painted decoration of cello ribs perforated paper by Antonio StradivariMuseo del Violino
Drawing used for paintbrush decoration of cello ribs (Museo del Violino). Only one cello decorated using this model is known which is currently exhibited in the Royal Palace of Madrid
Cello close-upMuseo del Violino
The history of the "Stauffer" cello has been reconstructed from the Hill brothers’ documentation, which focuses on Lisa Cristiani, a young Parisian cellist who came into possession of the instrument that linked her name to that of Stradivarius and the cello once and for all.
Lisa died from cholera in 1853 at only 26 years old, a transient star in the musical scene of her day: in just a few years she enthralled her audiences with her Stradivari cello, and the composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy dedicated the Romance without words op. 109 to her.
Fiorentini Redaelli, cello A.Stradivari 1700 Stauffer ex Cristiani, Mendelsshon Romanza senza paroleMuseo del Violino
Romance without words op. 109
After Lisa's death, the cello remained in France for a long time, then was brought to Germany and finally reached London in 1894 where it remained in the possession of W. E. Hill and Sons until it became the property of Mr. Lewis Bruce.
The instrument, considered by Alfred Hill as one of the most beautiful examples among the works of the great master, passed from Mr. Bruce’s niece to Paolo Salvelli, president of the Centro di Musicologia “Walter Stauffer”, finally returning to the town where it was played for the first time.
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