The “Joachim-Ma Stradivarius” has become the third most expensive musical instrument ever sold at auction.
Sotheby’s had estimated that the violin could sell for between $12 million and $18 million. This extraordinary violin represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship and classical music history, its unparalleled sound and storied provenance captivating collectors and musicians alike,” Sotheby’s chair Mari-Claudia Jimenez said in a statement.
The violin is believed to have influenced German composer Johannes Brahms when he wrote the famed “Violin Concerto in D Major” and was played during the concerto’s 1879 premiere.
The auction house said the buyer chose to remain anonymous.
