The production date of the ‘Montbel’ violin has often been the object of great dispute. Although the instrument bears an original label dated 1703, the renowned William Ebsworth Hill & Sons of London were of the opinion that the violin came to life earlier: ‘We have examined the Stradivari violin submitted bearing a label dated 1703, which we consider a thoroughly authentic example and typical of the period 1700, though we ourselves should attribute it to a few years earlier, 1697–98.’
More information: Antonio Stradivari Set 1, Volume 1, Page 326