Sotheby’s has been consigned by the New England Conservatory (NEC) to auction the Joachim-Ma Stradivarius violin with an estimate of $12 million to $15 million.
The working instrument was crafted in 1714 by Antonio Stradivari during his renowned “Golden Period”. Before it was donated to the NEC, it belonged to the late violinist Si-Hon Ma, an alumni of the conservatory. Ma specifically donated the rare violin with the expectation its future sale would help provide student scholarships.
“The first time we actually saw the instrument, we were really, truly blown away just by its presence,” Sotheby’s Chairman and President for the Americas, Global Business Development, Mari-Claudia Jimenez, told ARTnews.
Jimenez has seen a lot of extraordinary, nine-figure artworks and other items belonging to incredible artists and celebrities. However, the Sotheby’s senior executive had never seen or touched a Stradivarius violin before. “This is a 300 plus year old violin that has essentially shaped classical music history by virtue of what has been played on it and who it has belonged to,” she said. “It kind of gives you sort of chills thinking about the history of this object over time and how it’s changed the world.”
This is because the violin’s provenance also includes prior ownership by influential violinist Joseph Joachim. According to a press release from Sotheby’s, “Joachim almost certainly performed on this very instrument during the 1879 premiere of Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77, with the composer himself conducting.”
The violin’s estimate was calculated based on known Stradivarius violins (around 500), most of which are in museums and cultural institutions especially in the Italian city of Cremona, the birthplace of Stradivarius. Sotheby’s specialists looked at the quality of the Joachim-Ma violin in comparison to others that have been sold in prior years and its “extraordinary” condition.
“This one is both in working condition and is a perfect example of his Golden Period, the pinnacle of his craftsmanship as a lutier, which is what they call violin creators,” Jiminez explained. We think that there is real potential for this work to break the record for the price of a Stradivarius.”
The current record for a violin sold at auction was set in 2011 by the “Lady Blunt” Stradivarius, once owned by the granddaughter of Lord Byron, at $15.9 million, by the Tarisio auction house.
While several senior students at NEC were able to play the instrument, the conservatory’s decision to sell the Joachim-Ma Stradivarius violin at this time was practical. “We now have the opportunity to invest in many, many, many more students and create opportunities for them, to welcome new talent to NEC and to support future generations of music,” NEC president Andrea Kalyn told ARTnews. “It’s had an impact on on all who’ve heard it and all who’ve played it, and now that legacy expands to to so many more through this, through the establishment of these scholarships.”
Sotheby’s also expects a broad range of collectors will be interested in bidding on the violin. “It’s the same type of client who’s looking to buy a dinosaur or a copy of the Constitution or a stone tablet of the 10 Commandments,” Jiminez said. “These are once in a lifetime, unique trophy opportunities. I think this object really transcends being a musical instrument. It’s much more than just an extraordinary violin.”
The Joachim-Ma Stradivarius will be auctioned during the auction house’s Masters Week in February. Prior to its sale, it will go on view at Sotheby’s offices in London and Hong Kong.
