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Is the Messiah violin by Stradivari?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of Is there anything physically distinct about the wood and finish of Stradivari's instruments?·3 answers·0·0 following
Answered: The Messiah is a Stradivari of about 1716.Passed its tests and review.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. The Messiah is a Stradivari of about 1716. leads, with evidence 2 for: supported by its tests. Two are still possible.

Why it matters

The Messiah's attribution was disputed, and tree-ring dating became the test of it⁠[1]⁠[2].

Answers 3

Evidence: 2 for
Most likely
None of these.
Failed a test; not refuted outright
Evidence: none yet
Disputed
The Messiah is a 19th-century copy.
Failed a test; not refuted outright
Evidence: 1 against
Disputed

History

  1. Grissino-Mayer et al. puts forward: the Messiah is a Stradivari of about 1716.
  2. Grissino-Mayer et al.: the public ring-width series spans 1578–1686.For: The Messiah is a Stradivari of about 1716.
  3. Grissino-Mayer et al. puts forward: the Messiah is a 19th-century copy.
  4. Grissino-Mayer et al.: two independent studies date the outer rings to the 1680s; a proposed 1844 date could not be verified.For: The Messiah is a Stradivari of about 1716.
  5. Grissino-Mayer et al.: the 1844 outer-ring date rested on flawed statistics.Against: The Messiah is a 19th-century copy.
  6. Asked on this site
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