The ‘Soil’ Strad, (pronounced "shwah") or Stradivarius, of 1714 is a famous violin made by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari of Cremona. A product of Stradivari’s ‘golden’ period, many consider it to be the finest Strad violin. One of the violins in the Stradivarius collection of the Royal Palace, Madrid, Spain. ... // Events August 1 - George, elector of Hanover becomes King George I of Great Britain. ... Antonio Stradivari (1644 - December 18, 1737) was an Italian luthier (maker of violins and other stringed instruments), the most prominent member of that profession. ...

It is characterized by brilliant red varnish and a two-piece maple back with the flames of the grain joined, descending from the edges toward the center.

The instrument is named after Monsieur Soil, who owned it in 1902. The violin was eventually acquired by collector Oscar Bondy of Vienna. Bondy also owned the "Hellier" Stradivari of 1679. Yehudi Menuhin purchased it in 1950, and in 1986 he made it available to Itzhak Perlman, the present owner. Fritz Kreisler (sitting) with Yehudi Menuhin The Right Honourable Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE (April 22, 1916. ... Itzhak Perlman Itzhak Perlman (born August 31, 1945) is an Israeli violinist and teacher. ...

See also:

• Stradivarius (includes a list of Stradivari’s instruments)