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violin · Late Golden / Transition

Lady Blunt

A 1721 violin renowned for preservation and its 2011 charity sale.

Year
1721
Maker
Antonio Stradivari
Current player
Not recorded
Lady Blunt instrument
Tarisio Auctions, “Lady Blunt top”, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

01 · Story

When a preserved violin became relief funding

The Lady Blunt is exceptionally well preserved, but it is not untouched: the former institutional owner records that Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume replaced the bass-bar and fingerboard while the original components remained with the instrument. Sources agree that its 2011 sale supported disaster relief, but report different totals of approximately £8.75 million and £9.808 million.

Disputed

The Lady Blunt was sold in 2011 for Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief, but published sources report approximately £8.75 million and £9.808 million respectively.

The charitable purpose is well supported, but the reviewed sources report different sale totals and do not establish why they differ.
Why we say this
  1. supports

    Tarisio reports £9.808 million and says the sale proceeds were pledged to earthquake and tsunami relief.

    SourceLady Blunt Stradivarius violin sets world record price

    Tarisio

    Tarisio sale release, 21 June 2011

    Reference: Sale release

    Open original source ↗
  2. contextualizes

    The former institutional owner reports £8.75 million and confirms the relief donation; it does not explain why its total differs from Tarisio’s.

    SourceEntire proceeds from the sale of the Stradivarius 1721 "Lady Blunt" donated

    Sasakawa Music Foundation

    Sasakawa Music Foundation charity record, 11 August 2011

    Reference: Charity record

    Open original source ↗
Well supported

Lady Anne Blunt owned the violin that now bears her name.

Why we say this
  1. supports

    Tarisio’s provenance account identifies Lady Anne Blunt as an owner and explains the instrument’s name.

    SourceThe Lady Blunt Stradivari, 1721

    Tarisio

    Tarisio Cozio Carteggio

    Reference: Provenance

    Open original source ↗

02 · Specifications

Record at a glance

Made
1721, Cremona
Type
violin
Period
Late Golden / Transition
Location
Not publicly recorded

03 · Provenance

A life through hands

  1. 1864–1895

    Lady Anne Blunt

    Historical owner after whom the violin is named.

  2. 2008–2011

    Nippon Music Foundation

    Sold the violin in 2011 to benefit disaster relief.

Sources

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