Summary
Overview
The No Such Thing as a Fish podcast team discusses fascinating facts about stolen Stradivarius violins, bear-proof bin testing, Van Gogh's unusual habits, and Thomas Hardy's creepy marriage proposal. The episode features extensive discussions about the challenges of valuing and protecting priceless instruments, the science behind product testing, and bizarre historical traditions around proposals and ghost marriages.
The Million-Pound Stradivarius Sold for £100
Anna introduces the bizarre story of thieves who stole a £1.4 million Stradivarius violin in 2010 but couldn't sell it for even £100. The violin was taken from prodigy Min Kim at a Pret near Euston by a gang who then googled what they'd stolen in an internet café. The thieves were so clueless about its value that they approached a random bus driver, who declined, saying his daughter already had a recorder. The violin was eventually recovered three years later and sold for its full value, but tragically the original owner couldn't afford to buy it back as her insurance had undervalued it.
- Thieves stole a Stradivarius worth £1.4 million from violinist Min Kim while she ate a £2.95 sandwich at Pret
- The criminals googled 'Stradivarius 1696' at an internet café in Tottenham Court Road, with a bus driver sitting next to them witnessing their search
- They tried to sell the violin to the bus driver for £100, who declined saying his daughter already had a recorder
- The violin was recovered three years later and sold at auction for £1.4 million, but Min Kim couldn't buy it back because her insurance payout was insufficient
" They turned to this bus driver sitting next to them and said, do you want to buy this violin for 100 quid? And the bus driver said, it's okay, my daughter already has a recorder. "
" When someone said to her couldn't you get another violin she said would you say that if my child had died. "
The Mystery and Science of Stradivarius Violins
The discussion explores why Stradivarius violins are so highly valued despite blind tests showing even expert violinists can't reliably distinguish them from modern instruments. Scientists have investigated numerous theories including the Little Ice Age affecting wood density, special varnishes made with cochineal or volcanic ash, and borax treatments. The conversation reveals that many factors contribute to their legendary status, including the fact that Stradivari had access to the best materials as he worked for wealthy clients, and that psychological factors play a significant role in their perceived superiority.
- Blind tests show that even professional violinists cannot reliably distinguish Stradivarius violins from modern ones when they can't see what they're playing
- The Little Ice Age (1300-1850) may have caused trees to grow more slowly, creating denser wood that contributed to better sound quality
- All surviving Stradivarius violins have been modified over time - the Messiah violin had its neck lengthened, bass bar replaced, bridge replaced, and other parts changed
- In 2019, the Italian city of Cremona recorded Stradivarius sounds by cordoning off five blocks, turning off ventilation and lifts, and unscrewing light bulbs to eliminate all ambient noise
" The Messiah, which is in the Ashmolean, which is supposed to be the most close to the original, it's had its neck lengthened, its bass bar has been replaced, its bridge has been replaced, its tailpiece has been replaced, its pegs have been replaced, and its sound post has probably been replaced, and its strings have probably been replaced. "
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