Violins are prized for their exceptional craftsmanship and expressive tonal qualities, having occupied a central place in musical performance for centuries. Crafted from carefully selected woods and refined through skilled workmanship, they have long been associated with artistic excellence and virtuosity. Played in orchestras, chamber ensembles and solo recitals, sought-after violins are produced by makers such as Stradivari, Amati, Guarneri and Stainer — in 2006, Christie’s sold an Antonio Stradivari violin for US$3.5 million, which became the most expensive instrument sold at auction at the time.
ANTONIO STRADIVARI
A VIOLIN, KNOWN AS THE PENNY , CREMONA, CIRCA 1700
GIUSEPPE GUARNERI 'DEL GESU', WHILE UNDER THE DISCIPLINE OF HIS FATHER GIUSEPPE 'FILIUS ANDREAE'
A VIOLIN, CREMONA, CIRCA 1720
GIOVANNI BAPTISTA GUADAGNINI
A VIOLIN, PIACENZA, CIRCA 1740
GIOVANNI BATTISTA GUADAGNINI
A VIOLIN, KNOWN AS THE EX-WOLLGANDT, MILAN, 1755
GASPARO BERTOLOTTI DA SALÒ
A VIOLA, BRESCIA, CIRCA 1575
GIOVANNI BAPTISTA GUADAGNINI
A VIOLIN, MILAN, CIRCA 1753
GENNARO GAGLIANO
A VIOLONCELLO, NAPLES, CIRCA 1765
ASCRIBED TO ANTONIO AND OMOBONO STRADIVARI
A COMPOSITE VIOLIN KNOWN AS THE BALDIANI, CIRCA 1730
PIETRO GIOVANNI GUARNERI
A VIOLIN, MANTUA, CIRCA 1690
MATTEO GOFFRILLER
A VIOLIN, VENICE, CIRCA 1705
JACOB STAINER
A VIOLA, ABSAM, CIRCA 1663
VINCENZO RUGGIERI WITH LATER HEAD PROBABLY BY JOSEPH GUARNERI
A VIOLIN, CREMONA, 1710
CARLO GIUSEPPE TESTORE
A VIOLIN, MILAN, CIRCA 1701
PIETER ROMBOUTS
A TENOR VIOLA DA GAMBA, AMSTERDAM, 1708
FRANÇOIS XAVIER TOURTE
A GOLD AND TORTOISESHELL MOUNTED VIOLIN BOW, PARIS, CIRCA 1820-25
CARLO FERDINANDO LANDOLFI
A VIOLONCELLO, MILAN, CIRCA 1771
FERDINANDO GAGLIANO
A VIOLIN, NAPLES, 1781
CARLO TONONI
A VIOLIN, VENICE, 1735
FERDINANDO GAGLIANO
A VIOLIN, NAPLES, 1750
GIOVANNI BATTISTA CERUTI
A VIOLIN, CREMONA, CIRCA 1800
ASCRIBED TO PIETRO ANTONIO DALLA COSTA
A VIOLIN, ITALY, CIRCA 1760
NICOLO GAGLIANO
A VIOLIN, NAPLES, CIRCA 1761
J.B. VUILLAUME SHOWING THE HAND OF PIERRE SIMON
A GOLD AND IVORY-MOUNTED VIOLIN BOW, PARIS, CIRCA 1849
NICOLAS LUPOT
A VIOLIN, KNOWN AS THE EX-SPOHR, ORLEANS, 1789
ENRICO ROCCA
A VIOLIN, GENOVA, 1914
CARLO ANTONIO TESTORE
A VIOLIN, MILAN, CIRCA 1763
ANDREA GUARNERI
A VIOLIN, CREMONA, CIRCA 1690
JACOB STAINER
A VIOLIN, ABSAM, CIRCA 1655
NICOLAS LUPOT
A VIOLIN, PARIS, 1799
ANTONIO AND GIROLAMO AMATI
A VIOLIN, CREMONA, CIRCA 1619
ENRICO CERUTI
A VIOLIN, CREMONA, MID 19TH CENTURY
ASCRIBED TO FRANÇOIS XAVIER TOURTE
A VIOLIN BOW, PARIS, CIRCA 1790
PAOLO ANTONIO TESTORE
A VIOLIN, MILAN, 1749
JEAN BAPTISTE VUILLAUME
A VIOLIN, PARIS, CIRCA 1850
GIUSEPPE GAGLIANO
A VIOLIN, NAPLES, CIRCA 1780
JOSEPH GAGLIANO
A VIOLIN, NAPLES, CIRCA 1777
GENOA SCHOOL
A VIOLIN, ITALY, MID 18TH CENTURY
ASCRIBED TO GIOVANNI VASALLO
A VIOLA, ITALY 19TH CENTURY
NICOLAS GAGLIANO
A VIOLIN, NAPLES, CIRCA 1740
PIETRO ANTONIO LANDOLFI
A VIOLIN, MILAN, CIRCA 1770
THOMAS DODD
A VIOLONCELLO, LONDON, CIRCA 1795
ASCRIBED TO GIUSEPPE GUARNERI 'DEL GESU'
A COMPOSITE VIOLIN, ITALY
DOMINIQUE PECCATTE
A SILVER-MOUNTED VIOLIN BOW, PARIS, CIRCA 1845
JOSEPH HENRY
A SILVER-MOUNTED VIOLIN BOW, PARIS, CIRCA 1855
SIMONE FERNANDO SACCONI
A VIOLIN AFTER THE GIUSEPPE GUARNERI DEL GESÚ KNOWN AS THE LORD WILTON , NEW YORK, 1971
ALFREDO CONTINO
A VIOLONCELLO, NAPLES, 1919
ASCRIBED TO JOSEPH ROCCA
A VIOLONCELLO, CIRCA 1853
PIETRO GIACOMO ROGERI
A VIOLIN, BRESCIA, CIRCA 1720
ASCRIBED TO PAUL ALLETSEE
A BASSETTO VIOLA DA GAMBA, GERMANY, CIRCA 1722
CARL BECKER
A VIOLONCELLO, CHICAGO, 1929