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Stradivari Violoncello: the "Servais"

National Museum of American History

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Object Details

Servais, Adrien-François
Stradivari, Antonio
Description

This violoncello was made Antonio Stradivari in Cremona, Italy, in 1701. It is known as the “Servais” violoncello. It is made of a two-piece table of spruce with even medium fine grain broadening toward the flanks, two-piece back of maple with beautiful medium descending figure (with wings originally added to the upper and lower bouts), ribs of similar maple, modern maple neck terminating in the original pegbox and scroll of even medium figure, and golden reddish-orange varnish. There is an original printed label inside the instrument:

Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis
Faciebat Anno 1701

[“01” is handwritten}

Antonio Stradivari is credited with the final development and refinement of the violin family, creating instruments that are viewed today as the standard of perfection. Although little is known of his life, we know from notes on his labels that he was born in 1644 and apprenticed to Nicolo Amati, the pre-eminent violin maker of Cremona, Italy. Stradivari was 57 years old when he built the Servais cello, using particularly beautiful wood he reserved for such large instruments. The varnish is unusually rich, a reddish-orange color with golden transparency. The overall purity, and especially the sound of this cello, are remarkable. For its importance in the development of the modern bowed string family, the Servais stands alone.

Adrien-François Servais (1807-1866) was a celebrated Belgian cellist famous for his powerful tone and acrobatic technique, combined with increased use of vibrato, which was at that time an innovation in performance. He was also one of the first cellists to use the modern end-pin. In addition to his frequent performance tours, he was on the Brussels Conservatory faculty during a period when Brussels was an influential musical center. This is the cello he used in his career, building an enormous public reputation.

Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Charlotte V. Bergen
1701
ID Number
1981.0289.01
catalog number
1981.0289.01
accession number
1981.0289
Object Name
cello
Object Type
violoncellos
Physical Description
spruce (table material)
maple (back material)
Measurements
overall: 50 in x 18 1/4 in x 10 7/16 in; 127 cm x 46.355 cm x 26.51125 cm
Place Made
Italy: Lombardy, Cremona
Related Publication
Souvenirs and Caprices
Boccherini String Quintets, op.11
Quintet in C Major, D.956, Rondo in A Major, D.438
Octets for Strings
Bach Suites for Violincello Solo
Louis Spohr Octets, Sextet, Quintet
Franchomme/Chopin: Grand Duo Concertant
Brahms: Sonatas fro Piano and Cello
Georges Onslow: String Quintetes, opp. 38, 39 & 40
Shinichi Yokoyama. The Classic Bowed Stringed Instruments from the Smithsonian Institution
See more items in
Cultural and Community Life: Musical Instruments
Music & Musical Instruments
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_214477
Usage of Metadata (Object Detail Text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a0-ede5-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Related Content

  • Violins:Stradivarius Violins

  • Violins

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