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TARISIO AUCTIONS ‘DEL GESÙ’ FOR A WORLD RECORD PRICE

26 June 2012, London A violin by the Italian maker Giuseppe Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ was auctioned by Tarisio on 25 June. An anonymous bidder established a new world-record price for the maker of £1.5 million ($2.33 million).

“We congratulate the bidder and consignor on the sale,” says Jason Price, Director of Tarisio.

Known as the ‘Folinari’, the violin was made in , Italy, in around 1725, making it one of the earliest surviving ‘del Gesù’ instruments. Although Giuseppe Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ (1698 –1744) ranks alongside as one of the two greatest violin makers of all time, his instruments are much more rare. The appearance of a del Gesù at auction is a significant event; there have only been two previous del Gesù offered at auction in the past 10 years.

Mr. Price points to a string of important Cremonese violins auctioned in recent years, of which the ‘Folinari’ is the latest. “Bidders and consignors are choosing auction sales now more than ever. The transparency and openness of the format are encouraging to both buyers and sellers and the results and records speak for themselves.”

Overall the summer auction grossed £2.25 million ($3.5 million) with 88.4% sold. Sixteen other world records were produced in the course of bidding, including: A viola bow by Arthur Bultitude £4,800 ($7,487) A violin bow by Emile François Ouchard pere £5,700 ($8,890) A violin bow by Jean Joseph Martin £12,000 ($18,717) A violin by Giuseppe Stefanini £21,600 ($33,691) A violin by Giuseppe Lecchi £21,600 ($33,691) A violin by Cesare Candi £31,800 ($49,601) A by Honore Derazey £30,000 ($46,794)

ABOUT TARISIO Tarisio is one of the world’s leading sources of fine and rare stringed instruments. Launched in 1999, it brought a fresh approach to the instrument market, combining the services of a traditional auction house with the efficiency and accessibility of online sales. Offering first-class expertise and guaranteed cataloging, Tarisio quickly earned the respect of musicians, collectors, restorers and members of the trade the world over. It now sells over 2,000 violins, violas, and bows each year, with offices in New York and London. In 2011 Tarisio sold the ‘Lady Blunt’ Stradivari violin on behalf of the Nippon Foundation for $15.9m. tarisio.com ###