One of Antonio Stradivari’s most valuable violins was named after its former owner, Lady Anne Blunt, a granddaughter of the English poet Lord Byron.
The instrument, dating from 1721, is exceptionally well preserved. Apart from the ‘Messiah’, it is the only instrument from Stradivari that still retains its original neck. In 1864, J. B. Vuillaume was probably the first violin maker to carry out careful restorations and modifications on this instrument.
The trade history of this instrument is fully documented from the middle of the 19th century until today. Among others, the instrument was in the possession of the Bernese violin dealer Henry Werro for 18 years.
In 1971, the instrument was auctioned at Sotheby’s for a record price of £84,500.
In 2008, the Nippon Music Foundation paid $10 million for the instrument.
Just three years after its purchase, another sale at the Tarisio Auction House raised $15 million.
