Stradivarius violin crafted at ‘pinnacle’ of maker's career over 300 years ago sells for eye-popping price

A Stradivarius violin made astatine the "pinnacle" of Antonio Stradivari’s vocation sold astatine auction for an eye-popping terms this week. 

The philharmonic instrument, crafted successful 1714 by Stradivari, the luthier astir famously associated with the violin, sold for $11.3 cardinal astatine a Sotheby's auction in New York Friday. 

The violin, known arsenic the "Joachim-Ma Stradivarius," was made during Stradivari’s "golden period" erstwhile helium was astatine the tallness of his acoustic mastery of the instrument, Sotheby’s said. 

"This bonzer violin represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship and classical euphony history, its unparalleled dependable and storied provenance captivating collectors and musicians alike," Mari-Claudia Jimenez, seat astatine Sotheby’s, said. "The Joachim-Ma Stradivarius garnered planetary attention, achieving 1 of the highest prices ever for a philharmonic instrumentality — an acknowledgment of its rarity and humanities importance."

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Violinist Stefan Jackiw plays the 1714 Joachim-Ma Stradivarius astatine Sotheby's auction location successful New York Monday. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

The Joachim-Ma Stradivarius gets its sanction from its 2 astir celebrated owners: Joseph Joachim of Hungary, who lived successful the 19th century, and Si-Hon Ma of China, whose property donated the violin to the New England Conservatory successful Boston aft helium died successful Philadelphia successful 2009. 

The conservatory plans to commencement a pupil euphony assistance money with the proceeds. 

"The merchantability is transformational for aboriginal students, and proceeds volition found the largest-named endowed assistance astatine New England Conservatory," Andrea Kalyn, president of New England Conservatory, said. "It has been an grant to person the Joachim-Ma Stradivari connected campus, and we are anxious to ticker its bequest proceed connected the satellite stage."

Violinist Stefan Jackiw holds the 1714 Joachim-Ma Stradivarius astatine Sotheby's auction location successful New York Monday, Feb. 3, 2025.  (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

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Fox News Digital has reached retired to the conservatory for further comment.  

The astir costly Stradivarius violin sold for $15.9 cardinal successful 2011. That violin was known arsenic the "Lady Blunt" and was made successful 1921. It besides holds the grounds arsenic the astir costly instrumentality ever sold, according to Voice of America. 

The violin was made astatine the tallness of Antonio Stradivari's craftsmanship, Sotheby's said.  (Getty)

Sotheby’s had estimated the Joachim-Ma Stradivarius could spell for arsenic precocious arsenic $18 million, which would person acceptable a caller record. 

The Joachim-Ma Stradivarius was besides played during the premiere of composer Johannes Brahms’ "Violin Concerto successful D Major" successful 1879. 

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Bidding was halted astatine $10 cardinal aft 30 minutes, and the last terms includes fees. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.