La Pucelle
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The magic of the Stradivarius: the most beautiful violins in the world
14. La Pucelle
Showing the differences in colour and style among Stradivari's violins, this 1709 instrument has an ornate tailpiece design, much like the Alard Stradivarius. The carving wasn't made by Stradivari himself, however: Parisian dealer Jean Baptiste Vuillaume took it apart in the 19th century and added a tailpiece with a carving of Joan of Arc, the virgin warrior known as La Pucelle, from where the violin takes its name.
