On March 28, 2017, the 1684 "ExCroall; McEwen" violin by 17th-century luthier Antonio Stradivari will go to auction, with an estimated price of $1.6-2.5 million.
1684 "ExCroall; McEwen" Stradivari violin —
On March 28, 2017, the 1684 "ExCroall; McEwen" violin by 17th-century luthier Antonio Stradivari will go to auction, with an estimated price of $1.6-2.5 million.
ISAAC LAWRENCE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Stradivari produced about 1,100 stringed instruments -- violins, violas, guitars and cellos. Today, they often sell for millions.
1684 "ExCroall; McEwen" Stradivari violin —
Stradivari produced about 1,100 stringed instruments -- violins, violas, guitars and cellos. Today, they often sell for millions.
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The "Lady Blunt" violin, which was part of a 2013 museum exhibition of Stradivari instruments, sold for £9.8 million (then $15.9 million) at a Tarisio online auction in 2011. It's currently the most expensive musical instrument sold at auction, according to the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guinnessworldrecords.com%2Fworld-records%2Fmost-expensive-musical-instrument-sold-at-auction" target="_blank" target="_blank">Guinness Book of World Records</a>.
1721 "Lady Blunt" Stradivari violin —
The "Lady Blunt" violin, which was part of a 2013 museum exhibition of Stradivari instruments, sold for £9.8 million (then $15.9 million) at a Tarisio online auction in 2011. It's currently the most expensive musical instrument sold at auction, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
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This 1707 violin by Stradivari was auctioned for $3.5 million in a 2006 Christie's sale in London, surpassing the upper estimate price of $2.5 million.
1707 "The Hammer" Stradivari violin —
This 1707 violin by Stradivari was auctioned for $3.5 million in a 2006 Christie's sale in London, surpassing the upper estimate price of $2.5 million.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
A 1729 Stradivari violin known as the "Solomon, Ex-Lambert" sold for $2.7 million at a 2007 Christie's auction.
1729 "Solomon, Ex-Lambert" Stradivari violin —
A 1729 Stradivari violin known as the "Solomon, Ex-Lambert" sold for $2.7 million at a 2007 Christie's auction.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The "Lady Tennant" violin sold for $2 million in 2005, surpassing the estimate of $800,000-$1.2 million.
1699 "Lady Tennant" Stradivari violin —
The "Lady Tennant" violin sold for $2 million in 2005, surpassing the estimate of $800,000-$1.2 million.
JIM WATSON/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
"The Penny" Stradivari violin (held here by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen) sold for $1.2 million at a 2008 Christie's auction in London.
c. 1700 "The Penny" Stradivari violin —
"The Penny" Stradivari violin (held here by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen) sold for $1.2 million at a 2008 Christie's auction in London.
Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
In 2000, the "Taft, Ex Emil Heermann" violin by Stradivari sold for $1.3 million at a Christie's auction in New York.
c.1700 "Taft, Ex Emil Heermann" Stradivari violin —
In 2000, the "Taft, Ex Emil Heermann" violin by Stradivari sold for $1.3 million at a Christie's auction in New York.
DOUG KANTER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
But not all Strads sell for eye-watering prices -- or at all. The "Macdonald" Stradivarius viola, created in 1719, was estimated to sell for more than $45 million at a 2014 Sotheby's auction in New York. In the end, it failed to sell.
1719 Stradivari "Macdonald" viola —
But not all Strads sell for eye-watering prices -- or at all. The "Macdonald" Stradivarius viola, created in 1719, was estimated to sell for more than $45 million at a 2014 Sotheby's auction in New York. In the end, it failed to sell.
BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Similarly, the "Kreutzer" Stradivari, named after 18th-century French violinist French violinist Rodolphe Kreutzer, was expected to sell for up to $10 million in 2014, but failed to find a buyer.
1731 "Kreutzer" Stradivari violin —
Similarly, the "Kreutzer" Stradivari, named after 18th-century French violinist French violinist Rodolphe Kreutzer, was expected to sell for up to $10 million in 2014, but failed to find a buyer.
Christie's