"How high can the price of
Famous Violins go?"

*Prices are based on the foreign exchange rate of US dollar the year it was sold.

Click on the violin names, or scroll down to read more about these expensive violins!

"Ex-Vieuxtemps", Guarneri Del Gesu
US$3,900,000

It was sold for a world-record price of US$3.9 million dollars.

Violinist Pinchas Zukerman performed to a repertoire of Bach, Mozart and Bruch pieces with the orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre.

This del Gesu violin was made in 1741 and later belonged to Henri Vieuxtemps, a Belgian composer, a violin prodigy, and a court soloist to Tsar Alexandar II.

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"The Hammer", Antonio Stradivari
US$3,544,000

"The Hammer", a violin by Antonio Stradivari, was first owned by Swedish collector Christian Hammer. On May 16 2006, it sets a new world record then at an auction at Christie's New York.

The violin goes to an anonymous telephone bidder, with a high price of $3,544,000, over $1 million above its high estimate. It also broke the record of a Stradivarius, "The Lady Tennant" set in year 2005.

This famous violin was probably made during a chilly period between 1645 and 1715, when the wood used may be of unique quality. The unusual cold spell is one reason Stradivarius violins are highly priced.

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"Solomon Ex-Lambert", Antonio Stradivari
US$2,728,000

The"Solomon Ex-Lambert" is a 1729 violin by Antonio Stradivari.

Its name, "Solomon", came from the late Seymour Solomon, an amateur violinist who got the violin at an auction in 1972, and the co-founder of Vanguard records.

"Ex-Lambert" derives from its previous owner, Miss Dorothy Mary Murray Lambert, a British concert violinist in the 1920-30s.

The violin has gone through several transactions and owners since 1729. After Miss Murray's death, it was offered to be auctioned in 1972. Seymour Solomon bought it for £17,500.

On 23 February 2007, a performance of the "Solomon Ex-Lambert" by young British violinist Ruth Palmer, was held at Christie's, at the press launch for its auction. On 2 April 2007, it was sold to an anonymous bidder for $2,728,000.

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"The Lady Tennant", Antonio Stradivari
US$2,032,000

The Lady Tennant is probably the most well-known bowed and string instrument. It was made by Antonio Stradivari in 1699, just a year before his 'golden period', which is from 1700 to 1720.

This antique violin has fetched a price of $2,032,000 US dollars at Christie's New York, on 22 April 2005.

This violin was originally owned by violinist Charles Philippe Lafont. Its name derives from Sir Charles Tennant, who purchased the violin for his wife, Marguerite Agaranthe Miles Tennant, as a gift.

This famous violin was permanently on loan to Yang Liu, a violinist from China.

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"The Red Mendelssohn", Antonio Stradivari
US$1,686,700

This violin by Antonio Stradivari,"The Mendelssohn" was sold at the Christie's in London in year 1990, for $1,686,700.

This Strad was crafted in 1720, and was the highest-priced violin then. Its name came from a family of Berlin bankers who were descendants of the famous composer Felix Mendelssohn. He owned the instrument from late 19th century to 1950's.

It is also because of the rich-red colour, and a red stripe on its top right, that the violin gets its name. It also makes this instrument attractive and desirable.

The famous violin was bought by an an American, a professional violinist, who does not wish to be identified.

"The Red Mendelssohn" has also inspired the movie, "The Red Violin", a 1999 Academy Award winning film.

The violin is currently played by violin virtuoso Elizabeth Pitcairn. She received it on her 16th birthday from her grandfather, who bought it at the auction.

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"Kreutzer Strad", Antonio Stradivari
US$1,580,000

A famous Stradivari artefact, the "Kreutzer Strad" was auctioned off for US$1,580,000 at the Christie's South Kensington, London in 1998.

It was manufactured in the year 1727. This violin belonged to French violinist, Rodolphe Kreutzer, to whom Beethoven dedicated one of his best-known violin sonatas, The Kreutzer Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, Op. 47 (1803).

"Kreutzer Strad" would be ranked higher, if priced in Great Britain pounds of £947,500.

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"Taft", Antonio Stradivari
US$1,326,000

The "Taft" was once owned by the brother of 27th President of the Unites States William Howard Taft in the early 1900s.

It was crafted by famous violin maker Antonio Stradivari in early years of his "golden period" in year 1700.

In 2000, this antique violin was auctioned off at a price of $1,326,000 at Christie's East in Manhattan, New York.

The buyer, who only wanted to be known as 'a gentleman', is a patron of the arts, and plans to loan the instrument to other musicians.

It is estimated that the violin would sell up to $1.5 million dollars.

The "Taft" is currently on loan to Canadian violinist Jessica Linnebach, from the Canada Council for the Arts.

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And now...

Some of Stradivari
and Guarneri's finest violins

The Messiah -"The violin that has never been played before"
Antonio Stradivari

"The Messiah" is a 1716 violin crafted by Italin violin maker Antonio Stradivari.

It had passed through the ownership of a 19th century antique violin maker, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume.

Violinist Jean-Delphin Alard, Vuillaume's son-in-law named this instrument "Le Messie", as he commented "This violin is like the Messiah of the Jews, because one always waits for him but he never appears."

The Messiah was granted to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England.

The violin has been carefully preserved and is in very good condition. It has never been played and never been used in a performance. It is estimated to be around $20 million.

A condition in the will of the previous owner, stated that the Museum must never allow the violin to be played.

In recent years, much controversy has been called on the authenticity of the "Messiah". Experienced conservator, Stewart Pollens, questions the genuineness of this famous violin when he was asked to photograph it at the Ashmolean Museum.

Much arguments surround the controversy, and the American Violin Association has to be called in to mediate. The report is still pending.

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The Soil Stradivarius
Antonio Stradivari

The Soil Stradivarius is a 1714 antique violin by Antonio Stradivari. It was an artefact of his 'golden period', and one of his finest instruments.

The past ownership of this violin includes French violin maker and collector Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, and collector Oscar Bondy of Vienna.

This famous violin is also one of the most beautiful and delicately crafted Strad, with its red varnish and a two-piece maple back with its flame joined, descending from edges to the center.

"The Soil" was played by Yehudi Menuhin in 1950's, and then acquired by Itzhak Perlman in 1986.

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The Hellier Stradivarius
Antonio Stradivari

The "Hellier Stradivarius" is a 1679 violin by Antonio Stradivari. Its name came from the Hellier family, who bought it directly from Stradivari himself.

The famous violin was kept with the Hellier family since the early 1700's. Sir Samual Hellier, an Englishman, brought it to England, and was kept in the family for 180 years, till 1880.

This antique violin had also been through several transactions, and had once been owned by Oscar Bondy, the collector who also owns "The Soil Stradivarius"

"The Hellier Stradivarius" is said to be one of the finest Strads in existence. It is currently kept at the Smithsonian Institution.

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Il Cannone Guarnerius
Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri

"Il Cannone Guarnerius" is an antique violin of 1743 made by famous violin maker of Cremona,Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri, who is also known as del Gesu.

Th violin got its name from its previous owner, Italian violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini, because of its power and resonance and had become his favourite instrument.

Upon his death, Paganini granted the "Il Cannone" to the city of Genoa, Italy, and is now considered a national treasure.

This famous violin was also being played by the winner of the Premio Paganini, an international violin competition named after Nicolo Paganini.

Many violin virtuosos have also played the "Il Cannone" in many concerts held around the world. Regina Carter, a jazz violinist, had even recorded an entire album played on it, Paganini: After a Dream.

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Lord Wilton Guarnerius
Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri

The "Lord Wilton" is a antique violin made by Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri in 1742. It is one of the favourite instruments for legendary violin virtuosos.

Yehudi Menuhin, who is considered one of the greatest violinist of the twentieth century, played the "Lord Wilton" del Gesu.

It was thought that if the "Lord Wilton" were to be up for sale, it would command a price of near $10 million.

This famous violin has also been compared to many other great instruments. Its tone is so great that some have commented it to haven been "nuclear-powered"

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The King Joseph Guarnerius
Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri

"King Joseph Guarnerius" is a 1737 antique violin by Guarneri del Gesu. It is said to be one of the finest del Gesu instruments.

This fine violin was brought to the US in 1868, and was probably the first Cremonese instrument to reach the country then.

This famous violin has been played by many celebrated violinists in competitions. Among them is well-known violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman, who consider "King Joseph" as his personal favourite.

The violin is also described as "very human, with a warm voice". It is so popular that it was the subject of a 1980 book, a scholarly monograph by Chicago violin experts Bein & Fushi.

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The Sennhauser Guarnerius
Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri

"The Sennhauser Guarnerius" is an antique violin made in 1735 by Guarneri del Gesu.

The name derives from its owner in 1924, Dirksen Adolf Sennhauser, who bought it from the Hamma firm of Stuttgart.

The design and appearance of the wood of the "Sennhauser" are similar to those the "King Joseph", and they may be cut from the same maple log.

This famous violin has been played by well-known violinists, like Sarah Chang, Yoon Kyung Kwon, and Leila Josefowicz in concerts.

It is currently on loan through to violinist Emily Hyun.

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These are just some of the violins that commanded high prices at public auctions or have been played by famous violin players.

I will continue to update this page when new world records are made in world auctions. Subscribe here, to make sure you get the latest news!

You are also warmly welcomed to contact me if you know (or I've missed out) any famous, expensive and rare violins.