Stradivari violin sells for over $15m

A 1714 Stradivari violin put on sale earlier this month has sold for $15.34m, making it the second most expensive amount Stradivari violin sold at auction. The violin, named the ‘da Vinci, ex-Seidel’ after previous owner Russian Violinist Toscha Seidel can be heard on soundtracks for early 20^th century Hollywood films including The Wizard of Oz.

London auction house Tarisio, which specialises in stringed instruments and bows, managed the online auction, giving the instrument a reserve price of $8 million before receiving a total of eleven bids. Prior to the sale the violin has travelled worldwide for private viewings with potential buyers.

Bernardi Music Group founder Andrew Bernardi can speak from experience when talking about ownership of a Stradivarius violin. Last year he raised over £1.2 million in funds in order to acquire his 1696 instrument. He said: ‘It is reassuring to see this cultural treasure attracting a near world record as a priceless work of art which brings communities through music, be it financial syndicates, violin collectors, music lovers, performers or future sponsors inspired by the arts, who will support future performances on this violin… We are very much looking forward to meeting the new custodians of the “da Vinci, ex-Seidel” and see the provenance of this astonishing violin growing ever further.’

Although the price reached by the ‘da Vinci, ex-Seidel’ is second only to the ‘Lady Blunt’ Stradivarius which sold for $15.9 million in 2011, it fell short of predictions. The New York Times and The Guardian both anticipated bids closer to $20 million.

You can find out more about the ‘da Vinci, ex-Seidel’ here.

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