Rare inlaid Stradivari violin could fetch $11 million at auction

LONDON, June 6 (Reuters) – (This June 7, story corrects uncommon inlaid Stradivari violin might fetch $11 million at public sale)

A uncommon 1679 violin made by famend Italian craftsman Antonio Stradivari is headed for public sale subsequent month the place it might fetch as much as $11 million.

The “Hellier” Stradivarius “is the best inlaid violin ever made by… Stradivari and one of many best Stradivarius devices in existence”, mentioned public sale home Christie’s which is providing the instrument as the highest lot in its July 7 “The Distinctive Sale”.

Inlaid with ivory diamonds and completed with a golden varnish, the violin has a value estimate of 6-9 million kilos ($7.54-11.31 million).

Stradivari saved the instrument for 55 years, promoting it in 1734 for 40 kilos to Samuel Hellier of Wombourne, England.

“I anticipate numerous curiosity for such an instrument as a result of it’s so uncommon that it comes out of a museum,” violin professional and Christie’s advisor Florian Leonhard instructed Reuters.

“When are you able to contact a violin like this and personal it? It’s unbelievable.”

Stradivari’s violins are identified for his or her beautiful craftsmanship. They value between $8 million and $20 million, in keeping with Leonhard.

“Of the roughly 1,100 devices Stradivari remodeled the course of his profession, solely round a dozen are embellished with ornament, and this specimen is regarded by the Smithsonian curators because the best-preserved extant instance,” Christie’s mentioned in an announcement.

Violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason performed the instrument at a preview and described it as “stunning”.

“These sorts of violins are sometimes in comparison with sports activities automobiles, it’s a must to firstly discover ways to drive them, however when you discover ways to manoeuvre it’s extremely rewarding,” he mentioned.

($1 = 0.7960 kilos)

Reporting by Lucy Towers, modifying by Ed Osmond

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