Antonio Stradivari 1697–1698 ca. VL Montbel
The production date of the ‘Montbel’ violin has often been the object of great dispute. Although the instrument bears an original label dated 1703, the renowned William Ebsworth Hill & Sons of London were of the opinion that the violin came to life earlier: ‘We have examined the Stradivari violin submitted bearing a label dated 1703, which we consider a thoroughly authentic example and typical of the period 1700, though we ourselves should attribute it to a few years earlier, 1697–98.’
Further Details
Antonio Stradivari Set 1, Volume 1, Page 326
