Duport Stradivarius

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Duport Stradivarius is a violoncello made in 1711 by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari of Cremona. The instrument is named after Jean-Pierre Duport, who played it around 1800. In 1812, Duport permitted Napoleon Bonaparte to handle it; a dent, still visible on the instrument, is said to have resulted from the emperor's rough handling while straddling the cello with his boots.

Auguste-Joseph Franchomme set a price record by purchasing it for FRF22,000 in 1843 from Duport's son. The instrument maker Jean Baptiste Vuillaume used the Duport as the primary model for his cellos.

The Duport is one of the most valuable extant Stradivari cellos. It was owned and played from 1974 to 2007 by Mstislav Rostropovich. There have been no announcements made as to the fate of the instrument since Rostropovich's death.