Stradivarius masterpiece poised to break auction records
Sotheby's is auctioning a Stradivarius violin from 1714. At 18 million dollars, it could become the most expensive musical instrument ever sold at auction.
The auction house Sotheby announced it would auction the Stradivarius violin on Friday, known as the "Joachim-Ma Stradivarius", dated 1714. The value of this exceptional instrument is estimated at 12 to 18 million dollars. If the price reaches the upper limit, the violin could break the record set in 2011 by another Stradivarius – the "Lady Blunt" from 1721, which sold for 15.9 million dollars.
The President of Sotheby's Americas, Mari-Claudia Jimenez, stressed that the violin is from Stradivarius’s "Golden Period," which began around 1700. The instrument has been preserved excellently, and its ownership history adds to its prestige.
This represents the pinnacle of his work. It is the finest violin of this period – assessed Jimenez in an interview with AP.
Unique violin to be auctioned
"Joachim-Ma Stradivarius" derives from two outstanding violinists: Hungarian virtuoso Joseph Joachim and Si-Hon Ma, a Chinese musician who settled in America in 1948. Some believe Johannes Brahms composed his "Violin Concerto in D major" with this instrument in mind, captivated by its deep sound. Joachim premiered this piece in 1879, playing on this violin.
Si-Hon Ma acquired the violin in 1969. After his death, it was entrusted to the New England Conservatory in Boston, where Ma obtained his master's degree in 1950. The entire proceeds from the auction will be allocated to a scholarship fund for students of this institution.
According to the MP4 service, it is estimated that between 450 and 512 Stradivarius violins may have survived to this day. However, it is impossible to determine their exact number, partly due to the appearance of forgeries, which are mistakenly regarded as originals.
