La Pucelle (violin)

La Pucelle, also known as The Virgin, is a 1709 violin made by Antonio Stradivari.[1] Parisian dealer Jean Baptiste Vuillaume took it apart in the 19th century and added a tailpiece with a carving of Joan of Arc, the virgin warrior known as "La Pucelle". It was once owned by Huguette Clark, given to her on her 50th birthday in 1956 by her mother Anna.[2]

"It really has an amazing purity of tone, but purity with
incredible breadth as well. I think that it's like a beam
of light that is very strong and very wide. ... I've never
seen another violin like it."
— Canadian violinist James Ehnes[2][3]

References

  1. ^ Melinda Bargreen. "Preserving 'voices' of world's finest violins", The Seattle Times, 1 July 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  2. ^ a b Bill Dedman. "Who is watching heiress Huguette Clark's millions?", msnbc.com, 9/8/2010. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  3. ^ "James Ehnes Homage Teaser", YouTube, 27 November 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2011.