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In 1701, Antonio Stradivari experimented with instrument design, resulting in the production of one of his largest instruments, a cello with exceptional musical tone. Influenced by the magnificence of this instrument, he subsequently adjusted all of his violinmaking. This was the beginning of what was to be called his Golden Period, which identifies his ultimate development of the violin.
By 1840 the cello belonged to the virtuosic Belgian musician, Adrien-François Servais. In his hands its musical qualities gained legendary status through enormous public acclaim of Servais’s solo performances. After his death, the cello, now known as the Servais Stradivari, was kept in immaculate condition, but in private hands and restricted from public view for the next 115 years. Its reputation only grew larger.
On the morning of March 12, 1981, I was preparing for rehearsals in our auditorium when the telephone rang. Albert Meserlin explained that he represented an unnamed client who owned a Stradivari cello made in 1701. Revealing no details, he wanted to learn of our potential interest in a donation of this mystery instrument. The answer came quickly. After the call, I independently learned Stradivari made only one cello in 1701. It was the legendary Servais. It belonged to Miss Charlotte Bergen of Newark, New Jersey. And I was soon flying to Newark to pick up the Smithsonian’s first Stradivari instrument in the history of the institution.
Ernest Vanderlinden, the great-grandson of Servais, grew up believing that the Servais Stradivari was lost. Imagine his surprise when he read in a 1984 newspaper that the cello was in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution. Imagine my surprise to then learn from Vanderlinden that all of A. F. Servais’ papers were preserved in the family’s Belgian residence. Through Vanderlinden’s connections, I was soon on a plane to notate the archives, meet the Princess Caraman of Chimay, and the Queen of Belgium.
And so the cello and I began our first three years together.
—Gary Sturm, Chair and Curator, Division of Music, Sports and Entertainment
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Division: Division of Music, Sports and Entertainment
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