Gerald Segelman
1899–1992

A reclusive English millionaire who made his fortune in a line of cinemas and cafés, Gerald Segelman amassed one of the largest and most impressive collections of violins ever put together. Few people, even insiders in London’s violin scene, knew the extent of Segelman’s collection until after his death in 1992 when some details of a legal case involving his estate were reported to the press.

In his last years, Segelman sold some of his finest instruments, including his four violins by Guarneri del Gesù. But his remaining collection – scattered in various residences and bank vaults – still numbered many dozens of instruments and more than 200 bows. Many of the instruments were famous specimens that hadn’t been seen in decades, such as the Rode of 1722, one of the few decorated instruments by Antonio Stradivari.

 
(excerpted from the introduction)
“We can’t be certain exactly when he started collecting, but the earliest definite date is 31 August 1942 – a violin by Eugenio Degani, sold by Thomas Smith of Birmingham… Six weeks later on 12 October, he bought his first old master violin, a Nicolò Amati, and two days after that a David Tecchler. So began a staggering buying spree. By the end of the year he had accumulated another eight 18th-century Italian instruments…”

 

Book Description

A tribute to Segelman’s lifelong fascination with violins, this book tells the story of his collecting obsession, featuring colour photos and descriptions of 45 of the instruments he once owned. Included are examples by Antonio Stradivari, Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, Carlo Bergonzi, Nicolò Amati, Pietro Guarneri ‘of Venice’, G. P. Maggini, G. B. Guadagnini, J. B. Vuillaume, Lorenzo Storioni, and many other makers.

The standard edition of the book, limited to fifteen hundred numbered copies, is 216 pages and comes with a sturdy slipcase. Both the book and slipcase are bound in fine cloth.
A Deluxe Edition of the book, limited to 75 numbered copies, is bound in burgundy goatskin.

 

About the Author

Andrew Hooker joined the musical instruments department at Sotheby’s in 1977. He became a violin auctioneer and a director of the department before leaving to set up his own business in London. In 1997 he ran out of space and converted a large church in the country into his showroom. It was at Sotheby’s that he became personally acquainted with Segelman, who would often make a private appointment to view the instruments being auctioned. In this book, Hooker takes a fresh approach to describing the instruments by focusing on their condition. Another departure from convention is the inclusion of a few instruments whose attribution is uncertain, despite being certified by respected experts.

 

Featured Instruments

A. & H. Amati, Cremona, 1590. Baron Knoop Nicolò Amati, Cremona, 1645 Nicolò Amati, Cremona, 1662 Nicolò Amati, Cremona, 1666 Tommaso Balestrieri, Mantua, c.1750 Carlo Bergonzi, Cremona, 1732. Baron Heath Carlo Bergonzi, Cremona, 1736 Michelangelo Bergonzi, Cremona, c.1750 attrib. Nicolo Bergonzi, Cremona, c.1790 John Betts, London, 1785 Camillo Camilli, Mantua, c.1750 Johannes Cuypers, The Hague, c.1790 Eugenio Degani, Venice, 1898 Alessandro Gagliano, Naples, c.1720 Ferdinando Gagliano, Naples, 1785 Nicolo Gagliano, Naples, 1761 Francesco Gobetti, Venice, 1715 Matteo Goff riller, Venice, 1700 Giovanni Grancino, Milan, c.1695 Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, Piacenza, 1744 Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, Milan, 1751 Guarneri del Gesù, Cremona, 1734. Haddock Guarneri del Gesù, Cremona, 1742. Sloan

Pietro Guarneri of Venice, Cremona, 1721 attrib. Heesom, London, c.1735 Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi, Milan, 1753 The Dumas Maggini violin Giovanni Paolo Maggini. Viola. Dumas Giovanni Francesco Pressenda, Turin, 1833 Giuseppe Antonio Rocca, Turin, 1843 Giovanni Battista Rogeri, Brescia, 1703 Francesco Rugeri, Cremona, 1675 Santo Serafi n, Venice, 1743. Baron Knoop Lorenzo Storioni, Cremona, 1768 Lorenzo Storioni, Cremona, 1788 A. Stradivari, Cremona, 1692 Segelman cello A. Stradivari, Cremona, 1719. Wieniawski A. Stradivari, Cremona, 1722. Rode A. Stradivari, Cremona, 1733. Tangye David Tecchler, Rome, 1730 Giovanni Tononi, Bologna, 1701 Unknown Italian, 18th century J. B. Vuillaume, Paris, 1863 J. B. Vuillaume, Paris, c.1870 J. B. Vuillaume, Paris, 1874