Written by Ken NG
In the world of violins, Guarnerius and Stradivarius are absolutely rare relics. The two refer to violins made in the 17th and 18th centuries by legendary Italian luthiers Guanelli and Stradivari, respectively, and are quite rare to survive today. The world's most expensive violin is currently available for £9.808 million (about US$15.8 million; RMB102 million).
Next month, Aguttes in France will bring a 286-year-old Guaneri piano, which it describes as "the Da Vinci masterpiece of violins". The violin is estimated at €4 million - 4.5 million, but the bank expects to sell for up to €10 million (RMB 69.5 million).
The Guaneri was purchased by Régis Pasquier about 20 years ago, and the French violinist has performed in some of the world's top concert halls such as Carnegie Hall in New York, the Palais Garnier in Paris, and the Sydney Opera.
Régis Pasquier has carried this Guanerian to the world
Guanelli (Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarnerius, 1698-1744)
"del Gesù Jesus"
violin
Year of manufacture: 1736
Bottom size: 351 mm
Estimate: €4,000,000 - 4,500,000
Compared with modern-made violins, violins with a history of hundreds of years are more unique in tone. The reason is that the ancient wood of the body oxidizes over time, forming a unique vibration that flows between the resonance boxes. The baptism and refinement of musical instruments over the years is like alcohol. Guaneritine and Stradivarian are among them.
Known as two of the greatest luthiers of all time, Giuseppe Guarnerius and Antonio Stradivari lived in the 17th-18th centuries and made their mark in Cremona, Italy, where the violin originated, and were rivals of the same period.
In terms of production and fame, Stradivarius is above Guanelli. There are about 650 surviving Stradivarians and only about 150 Guanari. In terms of quality, the two pianos are of the highest quality and are not inferior. In terms of timbre, the tone of the Guanelli is thick and loud, with depth, and some violinists prefer this tone.
The Italian violin master Paganini, who was active in the 17th and 18th centuries, considered the violin made by Guanelli called "Cannon of 1743" to be his most precious instrument.
One of the characteristics of Guaneritín is that the label has the abbreviation his name HIS (Iesus Hominem Salvator) and a three-leaf Greek cross, so it is also called "del Gesù Jesus".
The Guaneri piano at auction was made in 1736 and was the pinnacle of Guanelli's career. After 286 years, the body is very complete, the back plate is made of a tiger maple wood, its double-panel is made of fine-hole spruce wood, the maple wood of the head and side panels show medium ripples, and the orange-brown varnish on a gold background is beautiful and elegant.
Régis Pasquier bought the violin more than 20 years ago
The famous French violinist Régis Pasquier bought this Guanerian more than 20 years ago. He first encountered the violin at the Folles Journées Festival in Nantes, France.
Pasquier recalls that when he tested it the day before the performance, he immediately fell for it. At the moment when the bow and strings come into contact, he truly feels the incomparable penetration of the timbre, and the resonance of the wooden body shows its difference, and the sound is projected farther and is suitable for playing in a large recital hall.
With the support and encouragement of his wife, Pasquier decided to buy the piano and, even without enough time to practice, used it at a concert the next day, playing a moving movement. Pasquier, now in his eighties, chose to sell it, hoping that the violin would be handed over to the next generation of musicians.
The Stradivarian piano, known as Lady Blunt, sold for £9.808 million and recorded the auction of violins
The guaneri is expected to sell for €10 million, which is expected to challenge the violin auction record. The current auction record is held by a Stradivarian.
The Stradivarian, known as Lady Blunt, changed hands in 2011 for £9.808 million (about US$15.8 million; RMB102 million) at the London auction of Tarisio, an American auction house specializing in stringed instruments. The violin was originally collected by the Japan Music Foundation (NMF) and auctioned for relief after the 311 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Incidentally, another 308-year-old Stradivarian will be auctioned at Tarisio New York in June, with an estimated value of US$15 million - 20 million, meaning that the above violin auction record is bound to be refreshed.
Auction details
Auction house: Augut, France
Special: Violin and bow
Auction date: 3 June 2022
Preview Date: 2022/5/30 - 6/2