A violin by Leandro Bisiach Snr (1864-1946), used by Russell Crowe as the character 'Captain Jack Aubrey' in the film, Master and Commander (2003), Milan, dated 1890

the back of two pieces of maple of irregular horizontal figure, the ribs of similar wood, the scroll of narrower figure, the front of two pieces of spruce of fine grain in the centre, broadening towards the flanks, the varnish of an orange-brown colour, labelled 'Leandro Bisiach della Scuola Cremonese fece in Milano 1890, Piazza del Duomo', signed by the maker on the label, and further labelled 'Copia Andrea Guarneri', together with a Baroque style bow of modern manufacture
violin length of back 35.5 cm (14in.), bow 62 grams

Accompanied by a copy of a certificate from Jacques Français, New York, dated 22nd April 1999
Accompanied by a copy of a certificate from Vita Dolce Violins, Los Angeles, dated 15th July 2002, together with a copy of a valuation dated 12th July, both made out to Russell Crowe
Accompanied by a letter from Russell Crowe stating his ownership.

• Lot Sold $135,000 (Hammer Price)
• $164,700 (Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium)

Provenance

Private Collection, Pennsylvania
Vita Dolce Violins, Los Angeles
Mr Russell Crowe, Sydney, acquired from the above in 2002

'At the beginning of the Master & Commander shoot in Rosarito, Mexico, the props department handed me a dark and heavy German violin to use in the movie. It was my thought that the Captain (Jack Aubrey), as gruff as he may be, would play a finer instrument. Peter Weir, (the director), agreed with me, but the film's budget couldn't take the extra cost. So I had my friend, Richard Tognetti, (from the Australian Chamber Orchestra), and my violin teacher, Robert Greene, try to track down something more suitable. They found me this beautiful Leandro Bisiach (made in Milan in 1890). Though it was a later piece than the time period of the film, the fact that it was in the style of Guarneri meant that it was a shape and style that Aubrey would have purchased. This is a serious concert level violin with a beautiful tone. It comes with a faux-Baroque bow, which was also used in the film. Also included is a piece of silk that the Captain draped under his chin when he played it.' Russell Crowe

We gratefully acknowledge the kind assistance of Tim Ingles in the cataloguing and research of this instrument.

Show Catalogue Notes

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