'Betts' Stradivarius

Filed under Famous instruments & value · Stradivarius Violins editorial team

The Betts Stradivarius is a violin crafted by Antonio Stradivari in 1704, one of the master luthier's instruments from his most celebrated period of production. The violin bears the name of Arthur Betts, a London dealer who acquired the instrument and is historically noted for obtaining it at a price considerably below its intrinsic value. The attribution to Betts reflects both his role in the instrument's documented provenance and the significant market disparity that characterized rare violin transactions during his era.

The Betts Stradivarius is now housed in the Stradivari collection maintained by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. As part of this institutional collection, the violin is preserved according to archival standards and remains an active performance instrument, appearing in concert settings where it continues to be played by accomplished musicians.

The Betts exemplifies the historical pattern by which important Stradivari instruments passed through dealers' hands before entering institutional collections. Its presence in a major research library ensures both its conservation and its accessibility for scholarly study and public appreciation through live performance, underscoring the dual role such instruments play as both cultural artifacts and functional musical instruments.

Sources: Library of Congress — Stradivari instruments / Whittall Collection; Tarisio — Cozio Archive of stringed instruments. Educational information only — not financial, investment, or appraisal advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.

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