How Much Does A Stradivarius Violin Cost?

Korean violinist Min-Jin Kym received one of the best news of her life at the end of July: her Stradivarius violin, stolen in 2010, had been recovered. The value of the instrument, made by what is considered the best luthier in history, is valued at 2.5 million dollars.

Antonio Stradivari was born in 1644 in Cremona, Italy. After several years of learning from the master luthier Niccolo Amati, he decided to set up his craft workshop. The particular shape of his violins, narrower and longer than the usual ones, added to their prodigious sound, caused his name to be well known among the musicians of the time.

Throughout his life, Stradivari manufactured around 1,200 violins, cellos, and violas, of which around 650 copies are preserved today. Regarding his genuine and peculiar sound, different from that of other luthiers, there are several theories, although none are confirmed. One of them, the one that seems to have the most weight, assures that it is due to an unknown formula in its varnish. Another was the presence of insecticides of the time, used to alleviate the problems caused by termites and woodworm.

A Stradivarius Violin Can Cost Up To 16 Million Dollars

The most expensive of these Stradivari is known as Lady Blunt. It owes its name to Anne Blunt, granddaughter of Lord Byron and owner of such a precious object for 30 years. In 2011 it belonged to the Nippon Music Foundation until it was auctioned at the Tarisio house. The event generated enormous expectations among music lovers. Finally, Lady Blunt reached the highest price of a Stradivarius: 15.9 million dollars.

Each instrument of the Royal Quartet is valued at more than 25 million dollars

Despite being the most expensive, it is not the most valuable. That honor is held by the Royal Quartet, a collection of four instruments (two violins, a viola, and a cello) that belongs to National Heritage (they were acquired by Carlos III). The cello had a mishap last year. During a photographic session, the instrument fell to the ground and the mast broke. After an arduous task of reconstruction, the value that this musical jewel could have if sold was made public: between 25 and 30 million dollars.

The Royal Quartet is considered the best group of string instruments in history, the work of the best luthier in history: Antonio Stradivari.

Reference sources

El Pas (2013) The British police recover a Stradivarius worth almost two million dollars. Fernndez, J. (2012) The Stradivarius myth, Deviolins.
Fraguas, R. (2012) The recovered Stradivarius, El Pas.
Tubella, P. (2011) The Mona Lisa with four strings, El Pas.

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