The Congress Library, Washington, has just acquired a very rare Alto Tuscan-Medicis, manufactured by Antonio Stradivari in 1690, for the sum of $ 30 million, reaching a new sales record never recorded for an instrument by the Grand Master of Crémone.
A little less than two months ago, we learn that the violin Stradivarius “Baron Knoop”, made in 1715 by Antonio Stradivari during his golden period, had been sold for the modest sum of $ 23 million, making him the most expensive instrument ever sold. Today, we learn that one of his cousins, an alto of 1690, made by the hand of the Crémonais, had been acquired by the Library of the Congress, in Washington, for the sum of $ 30 million. A completely exceptional acquisition, when we know that, unlike the violins and cells manufactured by Stradivari, there are only a dozen altos made by the Italian master.
The instrument has already been preserved within the American institution since 1977, But as part of a loan by the TUSCAN CORPORATION (its owner since 1957) with collaborative conservation agreement. The acquisition was made possible in particular thanks to a donation of $ 20 million made by Amy and David Fulton – who is none other than the former owner of the Violin Stradivarius “Baron Knoop”, sold a few weeks ago and holder of the sales “record” for a Stradivarius – but also thanks to A contribution in kind of $ 10 million from the Baird family (Tuscan Corporation).
L’alto Tuscan-physicians, rebaptisé “Fulton, ex Baird, Tuscan-Medici “, joins five Stradivarius (3 violins, 1 viola and 1 cello given in 1935 and 1937 by the patron Gertrude Clarke Whittall) From the prestigious collection of music instruments from the Congress Library.
-This Toscan-Medicis viola was ordered in 1690 to Antonio Stradivari by Ferdinand de Médicis, Grand-Prince and Mécène de Tuscane, to form a quintet with Stradivarius instruments which had been offered to it before. At the end of the 18th century, the viola left Italy for theEngland, where he passed into the hands of various owners, until 1924, when he was sold to the American amateur musician and heir to the Macy’s department store, Herbert N. Straus.
In 1957, Cameron Baird, violist, philanthropist and president of the music department of the New York State University in Buffalo, bought the instrument during the succession of Straus. On the death of Baird in 1960, his wife, Jane Baird, inherited. In 1977, the Tuscan Corporation (belonging to the Baird family) lent the instrument to the Congress Library, as part of a collaborative conservation agreement.
“This is an extraordinary gift for the library and for the nation”said Carla Hayden, Congress librarian, ensuring that the library “continue [a] To share this remarkable instrument with America and the world, offering musicians the opportunity to perform at the library and elsewhere, so that the public can discover this exquisite viola. “
The Congress Library also announced that the viola will be presented during the 2025-2026 season, as part of the commemoration of the centenary of the Concerts series of the Congress Library.
