Tarisio Auctions Expecting $10M+ for c. 1731 'Baltic' Guarneri del Gesù Violin
It's pretty rare for a Guarneri del Gesù violin to hit the auction block, but that's what is happening March 16 with Tarisio's auction of the "Baltic" del Gesù violin, made circa 1731.
Alongside Antonio Stradivari, Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù is considered one of the finest violin-makers in history, whose remaining instruments are valued in the millions of dollars.
The c. 1731 ‘Baltic’ Guarneri del Gesù Violin, from four angles. Photo courtesy Tarisio auctions.
Stradivari was born in 1644, about a half-century before Guarneri del Gesù, and both makers practiced their craft in their hometown of Cremona, Italy. But while some 650 Stradivari violins have survived the ages, only about 150 Guarneri del Gesù violins remain, making them even rarer.
BELOW: 2019 Queen Elisabeth Competition First Prize winner Stella Chen and international concert violinist Lisa Batiashvili demonstrate the instrument:
Tarisio estimating that the "Baltic" violin will fetch a price in excess of $10 million.
"The museum-quality status of the ‘Baltic’ derives as much from its historical significance as its remarkable quality and excellent state of preservation," writes Tarisio. "In 1731, around the time the violin was crafted by hand, the 32-year-old Giuseppe – referred to as 'del Gesù' by historians to better distinguish him from his father Giuseppe – had struck out on his own after his father’s retirement and began to break with long-established practices established by his grandfather, father and uncle. With its shorter body length, broader wings, and distinct ‘hatchet-shaped’ sound-holes, the ‘Baltic’ is among the first violins to bear the hallmarks of del Gesù’s signature style, and marks the start of a new era of excellence for the Guarneri name."
The instrument was most recently owned by the Lam family, having been bought in 1979 by businessman, violin collector and music patron Sau-Wing Lam. Born in Shanghai, Lam, studied music and played viola in a theater orchestra. After graduating from university, he moved to Hong Kong and then to New York in 1948 to establish the U.S. presence for the Dah Chong Hong Trading Corporation. Under DCH’s umbrella, he opened successful automobile
dealerships across the country.
He was a lifelong supporter of classical music, and he and his wife, Jean, supported numerous young musicians with sponsorship and instrument loans. Chinese cellist Jian Wang attended Yale School of Music with the Lam family’s support, and Wang has played a cello loaned to him by the Lam family throughout his four-decade career.
The "Baltic" del Gesù was exhibited at New York’s Metropolitan Museum in 1994 as part of a curated exhibition of 25 exceptional Guarneri instruments, then again in 2012/13, for an exhibition and concert series dedicated to Lam’s collection of fine Italian stringed instruments and French bows.
If you are thinking of spending your family fortune on this violin or just want to learn more about it, here is the link.
You might also like:
- David Fulton Recounts His Multi-Million-Dollar Violin Journey in New Book
- Anne Akiko Meyers Receives Lifetime Use of 'Vieuxtemps” Guarneri del Gesu
- Interview with Violinist Paul Huang: Playing the 'Wieniawski' del Gesù
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The two women in the video produce quite different vibrato.
My former teacher Steven Staryk owned this violin for a while and then sold it.I' ve never asked him why.
Peter Carter, perhaps he needed his house rewiring.
Good one Ron! I remember Staryk owned the Muntz Strad but sold it because it was too hard to play.He bought a Strad and a del Gesu from the proceeds.I can' t imagine being at this mega level of wheeling and dealing.I remember asking his opinion of a Cuypers violin I was about to purchase.He was( and still is)a gentleman and gave a great tutorial on violin purchasing.I walked away with my dignity intact.
I have heard many times that the best instruments are the hardest to play.
This one will probably end up in a bank vault, bit sad.
What an interesting contrast in the sound generated by the two players on this same outstanding fiddle. Of course they are playing in different spaces with different recording systems but the instrument seems to suit Lisa far better, she gets the full power out. Heart melting....
I've had the honour of playing three concerts with soloists using the Heath Guarneri.I have never heard or felt tone that luscious and powerful from any instrument.Its part of Canada Council's stringbank.The closest to the Heath was the Milanollo Strad that Corey Corvosek used with us about ten years ago.
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February 17, 2023 at 01:09 PM · Hope it doesnt go much over 12 million thats my limit;)