Henry Ford’s Classical Violins

Violin, 1735 Nicolo Gagliano Naples, Italy. 26.86.1

The violins of Nicola Gagliano (died 1787) were inspired by the work of his father Alessandro Gagliano and master violinmaker Antonio Stradivari.  Ford purchased this 1735 Gagliano violin through Ole H. Bryant, a Boston violinmaker who served as principal repairer for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.  According to Ford’s personal secretary, this violin was once owned by a young Arthur Fielder (1894-1979), who became conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra in 1930.