Rare Stradivari violin to be sold at auction

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - A rare Stradivari violin with an interesting history is expected to sell for more than $1 million when it is sold at Christie's auction next week.

The 1729 violin, referred to as "Solomon, Ex-Lambert", will be the lead item in the spring Fine Musical Instruments sale on April 2nd.

"It's an instrument that survives in wonderful condition and sounds spectacular as most Stradivaris do," said Kerry Keane, an international specialist for musical instruments at Christie's.

It is expected to fetch between $1 million-$1.5 million but could do even better. But Keane said it is unlikely to break the world record price set by "The Hammer" Stradivari which sold for $3.5 million.

"There have been professional musicians who have tried this instrument and who are quite enamored with it," Keane said.

Antonio Stradivari made the violin about eight years before his death in 1737. Stradivari is most known for his gold period between 1700 and 1720. Violins he made during that time are the most valuable. But Stradivaris made after that period are appreciated for their strong sound.

"Sometimes the stories of the owners are equally as exciting as the instruments themselves," Keane said.

The Stradivari that will be sold gets its name from the late Seymour Solomon, a New Yorker who co-founded Vanguard records, and an amateur violinist who purchased the instrument at a London estate auction in 1972.

Murray Lambert, a female British concert violinist during the 1920s and 1930s, owned the violin before Solomon.

"It was a rare occurrence in those days for a woman to pursue a career as a violinist," Keane said.

Whoever buys the instrument is likely to lend the instrument out to be played and appreciated.

Less expensive violins and a number of American guitars are also being auctioned, including two from the collection of the late Merle Travis, a country songwriter popular in the 1940s and 1950s.