David Laurie
David Laurie (b.Netherton 1833 - d. Brussels 1897) - was a distinguished 19th century violin collector (known worldwide, as good friend of J. B. Vuillaume). Born in 1833 in Netherton, Kinross-shire Scotland, he was an only son of John Laurie laird of Drunzie, Kinross-shire. He married and had six children with his first wife and then after her death married again and had twelve more children. He was an oil merchant, as well as an amateur violinist, though his passion was fiddle collecting which eventually changed to his livelihood. His personal violin was the "Alard" Stradivari of 1715, which he bought from Alard in 1876 (upon his retirement). Prior to that, in the mid-19th century the instrument was bought by a banker from Belgium in Florence and subsequently passed to J. B. Vuillaume in Paris who gave it to his son-in-law M. Delphin Alard a professor of violin at the Paris Conservatory. Mr. Laurie once was offered £2,000 for the "Alard" Strad which he refused. He amassed a great collection of the finest string instruments in the world. Among the many great instruments which passed through him were: Antonio Stradivari (STRADIVARIUS) violin(s) of 1684 "Wilmotte", 1688, 1701, 1702, the "Dancla