Violin, "The Doyen," by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu, 1744

01

Artifact Overview

In the 1920s, Henry Ford purchased several exquisite Italian violins. This Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu violin is the finest among them. The craft of violinmaking reached artistic heights during the 17th and 18th centuries in the workshops of Guarneri and Antonio Stradivari of Cremona, Italy. Ford's Guarneri is called "The Doyen" because it was once owned by M. Louis Doyen, a French amateur violinist.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Violin

Date Made

1744

Place of Creation

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Collections Platform

Object ID

33.250.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Maple (Wood)
Spruce (Wood)

Dimensions

Width: 6.563 in
Length: 13.844 in

Inscriptions

Stamped on bridge: Warren & Son / Choot . Rheem In pencil on upper surface: 9-81 Paper label under left F hole: JOSEPH GUARNERIUS FECIT [+] / CREMONE ANNO 1741 IHS Paper label under right F hole: 4537
Violin, "The Doyen," by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu, 1744