brownie Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 From AP: VIOLIN AUCTIONED IN NYC FOR RECORD $3.54M By MARCUS FRANKLIN, Associated Press Writer A nearly 300-year-old Stradivarius violin sold Tuesday for more than $3.5 million, shattering the record for the highest amount paid for a musical instrument at auction, Christie's said. The instrument, made in 1707 by Italian violinmaker Antonio Stradivari, sold at Christie's auction house for $3,544,000 after less than five minutes of bidding. The winning bid, which included the house's commission, broke a record of $2,032,000 paid for another Stradivarius at Christie's in April 2005, the auction house said. The new owner bought the violin anonymously via telephone. Kerry K. Keane, who heads Christie's department of musical instruments and was the bidder's proxy, described him as "a gentleman who is international" and a "benefactor and patron of the arts" who loves classical music. The violin, which had been expected to sell for $1.5 million to $2.5 million, will probably be heard soon on stages worldwide, Keane said, declining to elaborate. The violin's former owner, who also wanted to remain anonymous, bought it privately in 1992 from an estate, Keane said, and loaned it to violinists including Kyoko Takezawa, an orchestral soloist, recitalist and recording artist who has performed with many of the world's top orchestras. The violin, made in Cremona, Italy, is considered a product of Stradivari's golden period. Musicians and collectors covet the violins he made from 1700 to 1720 because of their beauty and superior sound, Christie's said. A violinist and teacher brought the violin to the United States in 1911. Since then it has had various owners. It is named The Hammer for Christian Hammer, a 19th-century Swedish collector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 For an instrument named "The Hammer", they better use it to play some goddamn Transiberian Orchestra!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son-of-a-Weizen Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 (edited) I was reading an article recently about David Bromberg and his extensive violin collection & repair business up in Wilmington, DE and he said that for bows, his artisans only use horsehair from a certain Argentinian line known for having exceptionally strong/thin strands of hair. One wonders what the source was some 300 years ago? Perhaps hair from a line like the hanoverian breed that originated at about that time? Or perhaps another breed that has, over time (for various reasons) been 'altered' to the degree that it's no longer viewed as a prized source of horsehair? Would the horsehair (by today's standards) that's considered to be the 'cream of the crop' be viewed as a 'so-so' product by artisans/musicians of the day? So many questions..... Edited May 17, 2006 by Son-of-a-Weizen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted May 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Horsehair pickers at work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 did that price include shipping? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 What was the seller's feedback score? And did they take Paypal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTMX Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Laurie Anderson bought it... to drum up publicity for her Oh Superman (Returns) single, set to tie in with the new Superman movie... Just kidding. Or are I? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERIGAN Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Stradawhovious? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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