A fine example of Stradivari’s ‘golden period’, the instrument has a two-piece back of gloriously flamed maple
Launched in 1990, the Anders Sveaas Charitable Foundation is one of the principal arts funders in Norway. The Strad Calendar 2027 celebrates its work by showcasing twelve of the finest instruments it loans out to players all over the Nordic region – including eleven by Antonio Stradivari.
1705–10 ‘Maurer, van Veen, Elphinstone’ Stradivari violin
The 1705–10 ‘Maurer, van Veen, Elphinstone’ violin derives its name from the German violinist and composer Ludwig Maurer, who appeared as the soloist in the first performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in Russia. In 1835 Maurer became the conductor and director of the French Opera in St Petersburg. ‘Elphinstone’ refers to Sir Howard Elphinstone, who also owned another Stradivari violin of 1684. He received one of the first Victoria Crosses at the tender age of 25, and later received the Legion of Honour in France, and the Order of the Bath in the UK. Another fine example of Stradivari’s ‘golden period’, the ‘Maurer, van Veen, Elphinstone’ has a two-piece back of gloriously flamed maple, with wide flames ascending from the centre joint; the back and scroll are of similar wood. The top (right) is of two pieces of spruce with irregular grain throughout, and the varnish is orange–red over a golden ground. It is now on loan to Swedish violinist Alva Holm, winner of the Swedish Soloist Prize in 2022.
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