BACKThe world-famous Stradivarius violin that was stolen from London’s Euston Station in 2010 and later recovered has been sold today, 18th December 2013 for £1.385 million including the buyer’s premium.
The ‘ex-Kym’ Stradivarius has been sold by Tarisio, the leading auction house for fine stringed instruments.
“The 1696 Stradivari has been purchased by a British music festival led by an English violinist. We congratulate the new owner and wish them the best of luck and success with the violin. We are delighted that it will be played and enjoyed for many more years to come and that it will actively contribute to the musical vibrancy of this country through the festival and its wonderful work,” says Jason Price, Director of Tarisio.
The violin previously belonged to London-based violinist Min-Jin Kym, a celebrated international soloist and chamber musician and the story of the theft received worldwide attention and sympathy. After chasing leads across Europe, the instrument was recovered three years later by the police in the Midlands, astonishingly undamaged. The thief tried to flog it for £100.
Made in Cremona, Italy in 1696 by the Italian master Antonio Stradivarius, the ‘ex-Kym’ Stradivarius is one of an estimated 600 remaining instruments highly sought-after by performers and collectors. Stradivarius violins regularly sell for many millions of pounds; Tarisio set the current world record at public auction for a violin in 2011 with the sale of the ‘Lady Blunt’ Stradivarius for £9.8 million.
Launched in 1999, Tarisio combines the services of a traditional auction house with the efficiency and accessibility of online sales. Whilst Sotheby’s and Christie’s fine instrument departments have recently closed down, Tarisio has continued to expand, each year hosting nine auctions and continuing to set records in New York and London.
Online bidding for the auction opened at £1 million. A portion of the proceeds and sales commission will benefit the authorities who were instrumental in recovering the violin.
© Daniel Lane