Antonio Stradivari, Violin, Maple, spruce, ebony, 1693

This Antonio Stradivari violin is the only one in existence that has been restored to its original Baroque form. Before modification to produce a louder, more brilliant tone and to extend the left-hand technique to higher positions, Baroque violins had gut strings, a short fingerboard, and a neck angled back only slightly from the body. Today, few fine violins show these original features.

Metropolitan Museum of Art