Jose (I) Contreras

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Violin	Madrid, 1760 c.	Wed 1st June 2005	£39,444
Violin	Madrid, 1762	Sun 1st May 2005	£22,800
Violin	1767	Wed 1st October 1997	£14,950
Violin	1751	Sat 1st June 1996	£9,200
Violin	1767	Sun 1st November 1987	£6,600

John Dilworth

CONTRERAS, José (I) Born circa. 1710 Granada, died 1775 Madrid Spain The greatest Spanish violin maker. Known as ‘Il Grenadino’. Worked in Madrid from c.1740. Strongly influenced by Stradivari whose instruments were becoming known in the Spanish court at this time. His style is very far from Stradivari’s own, however, having an impromptu feeling to the finish and technique. Outline quite variable. Generally broad and flat-arched with very good quality rich light golden-brown of varnish. Good reputation for powerful tone and presence. Cellos are rare. No violas recorded. Matriti per Granadensem / Josephum Contreras / Anno 1760

George Hart

This being one of the few Spanish makers, his name is placed with the Italian, the number of the Spanish being insufficient for a separate list. The model of this maker is very good, and the workmanship superior. He probably lived in Italy during his early life, the style being Italian.

Cecie Stainer

b. about 1710, Granada; d about 1780. Known as “Granadino” owing to his birthplace. He worked in Madrid from about 1745 making such fine copies of Stradivari s instruments that they were often mistaken for the originals.
A beautiful violin exhibited in Paris, 1878, was slightly arched, the sound-holes well cut, the varnish a yellow-red colour, very brilliant, the scroll rather heavy, the work beautifully finished. In it was the label: ” Matriti per Granadensem Josephum Contreras, anno 1760.”

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff

Einer der besten spanischen Geigenmacher. Er stammte aus Granada und
führte desshalb auch den Beinamen »Granadino«. Er copirte die Italiener, —
Sandys und Forster sagen: den Stradivari, doch schliesst sich sein Modell häufiger
dem des Guarneri an. Eine hübsche Violine von ihm mit gelbrothem Lack, aus
der Sammlung des Prinzen Caraman-Chimay, war 1878 in Paris ausgestellt. Vidal liest den Wohnort »Matxiti« statt Matriti und dieser Lese- oder Druckfehler begegnet
uns seitdem in allen nach Vidal verfassten Schriften.

£39,444

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Biographies

John Dilworth

George Hart

Cecie Stainer

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff

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