Lord Wilton
Encyclopedia
The Lord Wilton Guarnerius, sometimes called the ex-Jehudhi Mehudin, is an antique and valuable violin fabricated by Italian luthier
, Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri (1698–1744). It was crafted in 1742 in the city of Cremona
. It was named for a Seymour Egerton, 4th Earl of Wilton
, a musician, associate of Arthur Sullivan
, and 19th century owner of the instrument. It was owned and played by the well-know violinist Yehudi Menuhin
from 1978 to 1999, after which he sold it for $4.8m, making it the most expensive violin ever sold up to that date. Zlatko Balokovic
also played the instrument from 1952 to 1961.
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
, Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri (1698–1744). It was crafted in 1742 in the city of Cremona
Cremona
Cremona is a city and comune in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River in the middle of the Pianura Padana . It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local City and Province governments...
. It was named for a Seymour Egerton, 4th Earl of Wilton
Seymour Egerton, 4th Earl of Wilton
Seymour John Grey "Sim" Egerton, 4th Earl of Wilton was a peer of the United Kingdom. He was the owner and namesake of the Lord Wilton violin. A musician, he was an associate of Arthur Sullivan, of Gilbert and Sullivan...
, a musician, associate of Arthur Sullivan
Arthur Sullivan
Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan MVO was an English composer of Irish and Italian ancestry. He is best known for his series of 14 operatic collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including such enduring works as H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado...
, and 19th century owner of the instrument. It was owned and played by the well-know violinist Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...
from 1978 to 1999, after which he sold it for $4.8m, making it the most expensive violin ever sold up to that date. Zlatko Balokovic
Zlatko Balokovic
Zlatko Baloković was a Croatian violinist.-Early years:He was born in Zagreb, Croatia , and began violin lessons at age ten. He made such progress that, after three years, he was sent to Prague to continue his studies at the "Meisterschule" under the guidance of Otakar Ševčík...
also played the instrument from 1952 to 1961.