300-year-old Stradivarius could become the most expensive musical instrument ever

Created by famous violin maker Antonio Stradivari in 1714, the rare instrument is expected to be sold at auction for between 12 and 18 million dollars.

A valuable violin with a storied past will be sold at Sotheby’s in February — and could become the most expensive musical instrument ever auctioned, says .

Known as Joachim-Ma Stradivariusthe instrument was manufactured in 1714 by Antonio Stradivari, the famous Italian violin maker, during his “golden period”.

The instrument is still working and could be sold for between 12 and 18 million dollars (between 11 and 17 million euros), the auctioneer announced this week.

According to , the current record holder for the most expensive musical instrument sold at auction is another Stradivari violin: the Lady Blunt Stradivarius of 1721named after the granddaughter of British romantic poet Lord Byron. It was sold for $15.9 million in 2011.

The record could now fall when Joachim-Ma goes up for auction during Sotheby’s — a series of auctions that includes paintings, sculptures and other valuable works of art.

The violin was once owned by the famous Hungarian musician Joseph Joachimwho most likely played with him during the 1879 debut of Violin Concerto in D major Johannes Brahms, which Brahms himself directed.

“The first time we saw the instrument, we were really struck by its presence,” he told Mari-Claudia Jiménezpresident and chief business development officer at Sotheby’s.

Over the past nine years, just a few final year conservatory students were able to play the valuable violin, says Andrea Kalyn, president of the New England Conservatory, to Bloomberg. “It has been an extraordinary experience for them”, he adds.

In a statement, Sotheby’s describes the Joachim-Ma Stradivarius as having a “exceptional sound — rich, complex and full of depth.”

“The tone is both sweet and round, with a richness that seems to grow with each note,” states the auction house. “There is a warmth to the sound, with an underlying depth that gives it a unique character, making it far from vulgar.”

While future generations of New England Conservatory students won’t necessarily be able to play the 300-year-old violin, they will still benefit from its sale. Proceeds will help create some of the biggest purses of study named in the history of the conservatory.

Instrument enthusiasts and other members of the public will have the opportunity to see the Joachim-Ma Stradivarius for themselves. Prior to its sale at Sotheby’s New York in February, the violin will be exhibited in London and Hong Kong, with additional exhibitions to be announced.