A rare 1719 Stradivarius viola, considered to be one of the finest in existence, is expected to fetch over $45 million at Sotheby’s auction on June 25. Made by the famed Italian artisan Antonio Stradivari, this instrument is one of two violas by Antonio Stradivari still in private hands. The other is held in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. “Stradivari is the greatest violin maker of all time,” said Tim Ingles, director of the London-based fine instruments auction house Ingles & Hayday, which is conducting the sale with Sotheby’s.
“The amazing thing about violas is that there is such a small number of them in existence – only 10 complete violas today, so there is a huge rarity factor,” he added in an interview with Reuters.
This viola which is on sale is called “the Macdonald,” named after the 3rd Baron Macdonald, Godfrey Bosville, who owned it in the early 19th century. The late Peter Schidlof of the Amadeus Quartet acquired it in 1964. His estate is now selling it.
“The Macdonald viola happens to be the greatest viola in existence,” said famed violist David Aaron Carpenter, who played it in a promotional video for Sotheby’s. “It is one of 10 violas made by Stradivari, and the other nine are, unfortunately, in foundations or museums and realistically can never be made available for sale.”
If sell for $45 million, “the Macdonald” will set new world record and beat Lady Blunt Stradivarius violin which was sold for $15.9 million in an online auction in June 2011.
