Auction for 'Joachim Ma' Violin Set for the 7th
1714 Stradivarius Crafted by Antonio Stradivari
"The Finest Violin of Its Era... A Unique History"
A violin made in the 1700s has appeared at auction and is expected to set a new record as the most expensive instrument in the world.
On the 4th (local time), the Associated Press reported that the Stradivarius "Joachim Ma" violin, made by Antonio Stradivari in 1714, will be auctioned. According to the report, auction house Sotheby's announced that the auction for Joachim Ma will be held on the 7th in New York, USA.
Joachim Ma is estimated to fetch between $12 million and $18 million (approximately 17.4 billion to 26.1 billion KRW), and is expected to sell for the highest price ever at an instrument auction. The current highest price is held by the "Lady Blunt," recognized by Guinness as the most expensive instrument ever auctioned. Lady Blunt is another Stradivarius made in 1721, which sold for $15.9 million (approximately 23 billion KRW) at an auction in 2011.
Marie-Claudia Jimenez, Sotheby's Global Head of Business, described Joachim Ma as "the finest violin of its era at the pinnacle of Stradivarius violins." She also added, "Its condition is astonishingly excellent, and its ownership history is special."
The name Joachim Ma is known to be derived from two famous violinists who owned the instrument: Hungarian Joseph Joachim and Si-Hon Ma, who was born in China and later immigrated to the United States. Joachim premiered Johannes Brahms' "Violin Concerto in D major" with this violin in 1879. Later, Si-Hon Ma purchased the violin in 1969, and after his passing, it was donated to his alma mater, the New England Conservatory. The New England Conservatory plans to use all proceeds from this auction as scholarships for students.
Meanwhile, Stradivarius violins are masterpieces made by the renowned Italian craftsman Antonio Stradivari in the 17th and 18th centuries. Although about 1,100 existed at the time, it is said that only around 550 remain today.
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