In the late 18th and early 19th century, English luthier
John Edward Betts owned the violin. Remaining in the
British Isles, the violin was owned by the Irish journalist, landowner, entrepreneur, sportsman, and politician Lord Dunn-Raven from 1890 to 1923, after whom the violin was named. English businessman and amateur violinist
Walter Willson Cobbett acquired the violin in 1923, and it was sold at
W. E. Hill & Sons in London to Robert A. Bower (Somerset), who kept it until 1936. Subsequent owners included the London-based
Hungarian violinist
Jelly d'Arányi (1936–1966), Adela d'Aranyi (1966–74), violinist Oscar Lafer (Brazil) in 1974, and the teacher Felix van Dyl at the
Guildhall School of Music in London. In 1984, the violin came into the hands of the German violinist
Anne-Sophie Mutter, who bought the violin at
Bein & Fushi in Chicago. The violin is Mutter's primary instrument. On this violin, Mutter has given world premieres of several works by contemporary composers, such as violin concertos by
André Previn,
Sofia Gubaidulina, and
John Williams, among other music pieces. Mutter has also toured with the violin throughout major cities and concert halls in the world. ==Characteristics==