Lady Blunt – Reproduction of 1721 Stardivarius

In June 2011, a Stadivari violin known as the ‘Lady Blunt’ was auctioned at Tarisio’s in New York for a whopping $15.9 million, a world record.  Such a price might put into perspective why  a cultural artifact has attained such a meaning and almost archetypal status.
 
It is easy to see why the ‘Lady Blunt’ has such an intrinsic value: it is one of a handfull of Stradivari’s instruments in unworn condition – crisp edges, and an almost intact red-brown varnish layer, basically as it left the Stradivari workshop.
 
The 1721 violin at auction, was accompanied by its original fingerboard, soundpost, and bassbar, all removed
by Vuillaume in 1864 before being sold to Lady Anne Blunt, grand daughter of Lord Byron.  The violin retains its original neck with the letters PG painted inside the pegbox identifying the type of mold used, which determines the outline of the instrument.
Minor Swing – Stephan Grapelli
Performed by Randall Bullock on the Thornton “Lady Blunt” reproduction