The “Messiah” violin made by Antonius Stradivarius in Cremona, Italy in 1716 is considered by many people to be the consumate violin. The craftsmanship of the violin is exquisitely precise. The Spruce and Maple of the instrument are outstanding.
The Messiah violin remained unused in the Stradivarius workshop until the death of Antonius Stradivarius in 1737. Still unused and not played, the Messiah violin was sold by Antonius’ son Paolo to Count Cozio di Salabue in 1775. Luigi Tarisio purchased the Messiah Stradivarius violin from Count Cozio in 1827. Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume of Paris purchased the Messiah Stradivarius violin , and the rest of Tarisio’s collection, upon Tarisio’s death in 1854. Eventually the Messiah Stradivarius made its way to London and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England.
The Messiah Antonius Stradivarius violin is still on display at the Ashmolean and still remains unused and not played. The violin is very close to the original state it left the workshop of Antonius Stradivarius in 1737.
