British fine arts broker Sotheby’s is set to auction the 1714 Joachim-Ma Stradivarius violin in a unique sale in New York this February. Estimated to fetch between $12 million and $18 million, the instrument could become the most expensive ever sold at auction if it achieves this anticipated price range.
The New England Conservatory (NEC), the current owner of the violin, is offering it for sale to fund scholarships for students. This decision aligns with the wishes of the instrument’s previous owner, the late Chinese violinist and NEC alumnus Si-Hon Ma, who had stipulated that the proceeds support future musicians. According to NEC President Andrea Kalyn, the funds will facilitate the institution’s largest scholarship initiative to date.
The violin’s provenance is as extraordinary as its craftsmanship. Before Si-Hon Ma, it belonged to Joseph Joachim, a 19th-century composer, conductor, and performer with close ties to musical greats like Mendelssohn and Brahms. Sotheby’s highlights that Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major was almost certainly premiered on this violin. The instrument also played a key role in the revival of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas.
“What distinguishes the Joachim-Ma Stradivarius is its remarkable sound quality—rich, complex, and full of depth,” noted Sotheby’s. “Its tone is both sweet and rounded, with a richness that seems to grow with every note.” The violin’s exquisite golden-brown varnish enhances its aesthetic appeal, but its exceptional preservation makes it truly stand out, ensuring its historical and musical legacy endures.
Crafted during Antonio Stradivari’s renowned ‘Golden Period’ (1700–1725), the Joachim-Ma is considered an example of the luthier’s finest work. Comparatively, the 1721 Lady Blunt Stradivarius, sold in 2011 for $15.9 million, holds the current record for the most expensive instrument ever auctioned. Other notable sales include the 1714 da Vinci, ex-Seidel Stradivarius ($15.34 million) and the 1708 Empress Caterina, once owned by Catherine the Great ($5.9 million).
The 1716 Messiah Stradivarius, regarded as the most valuable of its kind due to its pristine condition, is estimated at $20 million. Owned by Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum since 1854, this extraordinary instrument remains off the market, preserved for future generations of violin makers to study and learn from.
If the Joachim-Ma Stradivarius reaches its expected sale price, it will cement its place in history—not only as a masterpiece of sound and craftsmanship but also as a transformative source of support for aspiring musicians.
