Hall Of Musical Instruments

About

The Hall of Musical Instruments is the permanent exhibition of priceless historical musical instruments at Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. Most of the instruments are functional and occasionally used in performances by the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society and other distinguished musicians. Highlights of the NMAH's "Hall of Musical Instruments" collection include the 1701 'Servais,' one of the best-preserved cellos by Antonio Stradivari, and the unique "Axelrod Quartet" of rare decorated Stradivarius instruments, donated to Smithsonian in 1998 by the collector Herbert R. Axelrod (1927—2017), and featuring 1687 '' and c.1700 'Greffuhle' violins, the 1695 'Axelrod' viola, and 1688 'Marylebone' cello.