Duport Stradivarius

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The Duport Stradivarius, is an antique cello fabricated in 1711 by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari of Cremona (1644-1737). The instrument is named for Jean-Pierre Duport, who played it around 1800. In 1812, Duport permitted Napoleon to handle it; a dent, still visible on the instrument, is said to have resulted from the emperor's handling of it, straddling it with his boots.

Auguste-Joseph Franchomme set a price record by purchasing it for FRF22,000 in 1843 from Duport's son. The nineteenth century instrument maker Jean Baptiste Vuillaume used the Duport as the primary model for his cellos. Vuillaume was an astute businessman, and a very good violin maker. Approximately 3,000 instruments were produced and sold through his shop. He purchased the entire collection of instruments left by Luigi Tarisio, the eccentric gentleman who introduced many Italian instruments to Paris and London dealers. Taking advantage of his good fortune, Vuillaume built some of his finest violins using patterns he made from two of the most famous violins in modern times. One is a magnificent Stradivari from the year 1716, named The Messiah; the other is by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu, made in 1743, which was owned and played by Nicolo Paganini.

The Duport is one of the most valuable extant Stradivari cellos. It has been owned and played since 1974 by Mstislav Rostropovich.