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Over the centuries, violins have become priceless works of art. Their prices are skyrocketing, with a rare Stradivarius, sold for more than 15 million dollars in New York just before the summer.
“When you see me holding this instrument, it’s me in its totality. And if you take it away from me, I feel like I’m missing something”, says Régis Pasquier, virtuoso, about his instrument, companion of a lifetime. Beneath its apparent simplicity, this violin is a gem. “When the bass strings resonate for a long time, it means that this wood is exceptional”, says the violinist. It is a work made in 1736 by one of the greatest Italian luthiers, Giuseppe Guarnerius. Régis Pasquier nevertheless wished to part with it.
It is up to the auctioneer to orchestrate the auction. Last June, this Guarnerius was sold for more than three million euros. Guarnerius, Stradivarius, Amati, so many prestigious names that often bring good fortune to auction houses. On June 9 in New York, a “Da Vinci” Stradivarius, dated 1714, sold for 15 million euros. Originally a simple work tool, the violin has become a work of art and an object of speculation.