Hot Stradivarius Violin Bookmark Office

A highlight of The Met’s collection of musical instruments, “The Gould” violin after which our bookmark is styled was crafted in 1693 by the master luthier, Antonio Stradivari (Italian, 1644–1737). While 17th- and 18th-century stringed instruments remain in use, nearly all of them have been modified to produce a larger, louder sound suited to modern concert halls. In 1975, the Museum commissioned Dutch luthier Frederick J. Lindeman to modify “The Gould” back to a Baroque configuration. It’s now the only violin by Stradivari to be returned to its original setup and regularly used in the performance of period music.