Antonio Stradivari

Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737) was an Italian luthier, a crafter of stringed instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars and harps. Stradivari (often Latinised to Stradivarius) is generally considered the most significant artisan in this field. The colloquial, "Strad", is often used to refer to his instruments. Although by 1735 he was in his nineties he did make at least three violins. These include the Lamoureux (formerly the Zimbalist) and the Elman (formerly the Hartmann or Samazeuilh). Efrem Zimbalist sold the Lamoureux to David Sarser in 1948. It was subsequently stolen in the seventies.