Christie’s sale of Fine Musical Instruments totaled $3,663,125/£1,831,563/€ 2,333,201. The top lot was led by a violin made by Antonio Stradivari, known as The Penny, that achieved $1,273,000. Also, new world auction records were made for a Matteo Groffriller violin, a Ferdinando Gagliano violin, a José Contreras violin, and a C.F. Martin guitar.

Fine Musical Instruments
New York – Friday, April 4, 2008
Sale no: 1982 – Top Ten

Sold: $3,663,125 £1,831,563 € 2,333,201
Lots Sold: 171 Lots Offered: 194 Sold by Lot: 88% Sold by $: 96%
Exchange Rate: $ =£2.00/ €1.57

Lot Description
Estimate ($)
Purchase Price
Buyer

195 Antonio Stradivari, a violin, known as The Penny,
Cremona, circa 1700
1,000,000-1,500,000 $1,273,000
£ 636,500
€ 810,828 Anonymous

98 Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, a violin, known as the Ex- Wollgandt, Milan, 1755
300,000-400,000
$589,000
£294,500
€375,159 European Private

194 Matteo Goffriller, a violin, Venice, circa 1705
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR GOFFRILLER 120,000-160,000
$265,000
£132,500
€168,790 US Private

188 Ferdinando Gagliano, a violin, Naples, 1781
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR GAGLIANO 100,000-120,000
$181,000
£90,500
€115,287 US Trade

33 José Contreras, a violin, Madrid, 1770
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR CONTRERAS 26,000-35,000 $133,000
£66,500
€84,713 European Private

13 C.F. Martin and Company, a guitar, style D-28, Nazareth PA., 1938
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR C.F. MARTIN 30,000-50,000 $115,000
£57,500
€73,248 US Trade

58 Genoa School, a violin, Italy, Mid 18th Century 15,000-25,000 $91,000
£45,500
€57,962 US Trade

23 Hermann Hauser Sr., a classical guitar, Reisbach, 1928 60,000-80,000 $73,000
£36,500
€46,497 Asian Private

1 Gibson Incorporated, a solid-body electric guitar, Les Paul Custom, Kalamazoo, 1960 40,000-60,000 $61,000
£30,500
€38,854 US Trade

29 Probably Hendrik Jacobs, a violin, Amsterdam, circa 1680 10,000-15,000
$58,600
£29,300
€37,325 Asian Private

Comment: Kerry Keane, International Head of Department: We are delighted with the unrivalled success of today’s sale. Across the board, the sale achieved spectacular results, attracted new buyers, and set new world auction records for a Matteo Groffriller violin, a Ferdinando Gagliano violin, a José Contreras violin, and a C.F. Martin guitar. With fierce competition amongst Asian, American, and European collectors, the musical instruments market is strong and robust on an international level.

Posted: 04|15|08 at 9:00 am. Filed under: Press Release.