At Christie’s April 22 sale of fine musical instruments, a violin made by Antonio Stradivari in 1699, the year before his golden period, achieved $2,032,000, against a presale estimate of $800,000/1.2 million. This price is a world auction record for any musical instrument and largely surpassed the previous record, which was $1,776,940 realized for a Stradivari violin in 1990 at Christie’s London.

Created in 1699 when Antonio Stradivari was 55 years old, The Lady Tennant violin illustrates the hallmarks of Stradivari’s emerging Golden Period style. An exciting and significant prospect for discerning collectors and musical virtuosi across the world, the violin has a wonderfully rich provenance and bears the label “Antonius Stradiuarius Cremonensis / Faciebat Anno 1699.”

On April 15, the violinist of the Eroica Trio, Adela Peña, played The Lady Tennant at Christie’s press conference, marking the first time the instrument was played in public in the United States.

Another highlight of the sale was a cello by Matteo Goffriller of Venice, circa 1707, which achieved a result of $620,800, against a presale estimate of $400/600,000, establishing a new world auction record for the maker.

The sale of fine musical instruments totaled $4,179,560. A complete review will appear in a future issue.