Stradivarius Violins.
A Stradivarius violin photographed in close detail

Stradivarius Violins

The history, makers, famous instruments, and value of the world's most celebrated violins — sourced, fact-checked, and free.

Sourced & fact-checkedLibrary of Congress · Tarisio · HillStradivari & classical stringsFree educational reference

Stradivarius Violins is a free, sourced reference to the world's most celebrated violins — Antonio Stradivari, his instruments, the famous named Strads, and their value. We publish 12 reference guides and 6 famous-instrument fact pages, each fact-checked against reputable authorities.

A decorated Stradivarius violin held in the Royal Palace, Madrid
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

What makes a Stradivarius

A Stradivarius is a string instrument made by Antonio Stradivari of Cremona between the 1660s and 1730s. Built from spruce and maple and refined over a lifetime, the finest — from the golden period of about 1700–1720 — are prized for a tone makers have spent three centuries trying to match. We cover the instruments, the maker, and the famous named Strads, sourced to the Library of Congress, the Hill catalogue, and the Tarisio archive.

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The maker and his city

Antonio Stradivari learned his craft in the Cremonese tradition of the Amati family and became the most celebrated luthier in history. His rivalry with Guarneri 'del Gesù' and the unsolved question of his instruments' sound still fascinate players and scientists today.

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A historical engraved portrait of Antonio Stradivari (after Ant. Campi, 1681)
Engraving: Frédéric Hillemacher (1886), after Antonio Campi (1681) / public domain, via the Bibliothèque nationale de France / Wikimedia Commons

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