The Most Expensive Musical Instruments of All Time

Musical instruments are an expensive business at the best of times; guitars can easily run into the thousands off the shelves of your local music shop, and pianos are even more expensive to purchase and maintain. But there is a class of instruments far above those we might dream of buying via retail platforms – a stratum of vintage instruments that attract big players, and even bigger money. Here are three of the most expensive musical instruments ever sold – or nearly sold…

The Paganini Stradivarius Cello

The Italian instrument-maker Stradivari is perhaps the single most renowned in his craft, being responsible for the creation of over 1,000 stringed instruments such as button accordions of otherworldly build and sound quality. Many of his instruments remain in use to this day, and the Latin form of his name is a household one, owing to his contributions to music: Stradivarius.

Of the 1,116 instruments he was purported to have made, around 650 are thought to remain in existence. Today they are worth millions, owing not just to their craftsmanship but also the individual histories each one carries. This extreme value makes musical instrument insurance nothing short of a requirement, in order to protect owners against theft and costly repairs. One such Stradivarius, a cello named the Paganini for its ownership by the famed violinist, recently sold for over $6 million in a US auction. It had belonged to Bernard Greenhouse, a founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio, and was sold by his estate following his death. Today it is, thankfully, still in use – purchased by a patron of the arts and lent to a talented young cellist to continue its purpose.

The Duport Stradivarius Cello

The second Stradivarius cello on this list, the Duport is of particular note owing to its colourful travels through history. Initially built for a member of King Louis XIV’s court, the cello was eventually privately sold to Jean-Louis Duport, a master of the instrument and writer of seminal teaching works on technique. During his ownership, the instrument famously met Napoleon of France, whose clumsy handling resulted in a dent still visible on the instrument to this day.

In the 20^th century, the Duport cello made it to the hands of famed Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, via Gerald Warburg. The cello was played by Rostropovich until his death in 2007. In 200, the cello was allegedly sold to the Nippon Music Foundation for a staggering $20 million – making it the most expensive cello ever sold.

The Macdonald Stradivarius Viola

The Macdonald Stradivarius viola is perhaps the most infamous of instruments on this list, owing to its its recent history in the auction markets. Stradivari only made 15 violas in his lifetime, and only 11 of those still exist today – making the instrument an extremely rare one to behold. The Macdonald Viola was made in 1719, and despite an illustrious list of owners is now most famous for the last 40 years of its life. After its last owner, famed Amadeus Quartet member Peter Schidlof, died in 1987, his estate placed it in storage – and after 30 years of no active use, the viola became the only example available for private sale and one of the best-preserved examples on the market. As such, Sotheby’s auction house attempted to sell it for $45 million, but failed to secure a buyer. The auction and its failure sparked huge debates about instruments as art or utility, but its valuation will stick with it for many years to come.