Auction News Network

Most Ever Paid For A Stradivarius: $16m

A Stradivarius said to be in the best original condition of any of those still in existence sold to an anonymous bidder for nearly $16m, more than anyone has ever paid for a stringed instrument. The seller bought the museum quality violin in 2008 for $10m.

A Singing Cowboy’s Estate

Gene Autry was popularly known as the singing cowboy, but in reality he was a renaissance man—a composer and actor as well as a sports, broadcasting, and real estate mogul. This Sunday the Los Angeles based Abell Auction Co. will offer a number of items from the country music icon’s estate, including the 1949 Steinway grand piano on which he composed some 640 songs (est.$10,000-$15,000).

$10m Fiddle Comes To Auction

Forty years ago, when the 1721 Stradivarius known as the Lady Blunt came up for auction, it sold for over $200,000—an astonishing amount at the time.  By 2008, when the fiddle changed hands again, the price was rather higher: $10m. Now the violin’s owner, Tokyo’s Nippon Music Foundation, has announced it will auction the Stradivarius on June 20 for the benefit of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami victims.

Fine Violins & A Stratocaster

Fine Italian violins, centuries old, often take center stage at major auctions of musical instruments, and Christie’s sale on April 29 in New York will be no exception. The highest valued lot is a violin made by Giovanni Baptista Guadagnini in Piacenza circa 1740. From the collection of an anonymous musician, it’s expected to sell for $350,000-$450,000.

Eric Clapton’s Guitars Triple Estimates

As a gallery of collectors, fans, and musicians watched, rock icon Eric Clapton’s personal collection of 75 guitars and 55 amps sold at Bonhams yesterday for $2.15 million, more than tripling pre-sale estimates. Proceeds from the New York auction will go to benefit the Crossroads Centre, a drug rehabilitation clinic in Antiqua.

“Yesterday” Piano Will Sell

The 1926 “mini-piano” on which Paul McCartney composed “Yesterday” is coming up for auction at London’s Drury Lane Theatre on April 14. The melody of the Beatles’ classic came to McCartney in a dream, and at first he suspected he’d stolen it. So he went to singer Alma Cogan, and for the first time played the song on this piano. It’s expected to sell for at least $203,000.

Update: The piano sold for $240,000, exceeding estimates.

Slash’s Guitars, Corvette & Harley To Sell

Former  Guns & Roses lead guitarist Slash will be paring his possessions in a Beverly Hills sale, including just the sorts of things you’d expect from a rock legend: electric guitars, jewelry, flashy concert outfits, furniture from his Hollywood Hills home, and motorcycles. The top-valued item at Julien’s March 26th sale is Slash’s 1966 427 V-8 Corvette, estimated at $90,000-$100,000.

Rare Violins & Cellos At Sotheby’s

When it comes to stringed instruments, older is often better: think Stradivarius. Or–on another scale–Jacob Stainer, a 17^th century Austrian artisan who produced the 1659 violin known as “The King.” It’s expected to sell for as much as $240,000 at Sotheby’s auction of Musical Instruments early next month in London.

Bonhams To Sell Eric Clapton’s Guitars For Charity

Early next month Bonhams will sell more than 150 items from Eric Clapton’s musical collection, including over 70 guitars and 70 amps, to benefit The Crossroads Center, a drug and alcohol rehab clinic that he founded in Antigua in 1998.

Jimi Hendrix Guitar To Sell

When he bought it in New York, legend Jimi Hendrix only paid about $25 for the second-hand Epiphone FT79 acoustic guitar, but for the next three years it was his favorite. When Bonhams offers it at their Entertainment Memorabilia auction in Knightsbridge today, it’s expected to sell for $126-$189,000.

John Lennon Lyrics At Bonhams

Expect to pay at least $395-$553,000 for John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics for “I’m Only Sleeping,” which will highlight an Entertainment Memorabilia auction at Bonhams next week in Knightsbridge. The former Beatle, who would have turned 70 this year, scrawled them on the back of a bill; filled with excised and rewritten lines, they’re a window into his creative process.

Update: The lyrics failed to find a buyer.

Johnny Cash’s Guitars At Julien’s

Seven years after country music legend Johnny Cash’s death, Julien’s Auctions will offer a wide mix of articles from his life and career. An inscribed Grammer Johnny Cash guitar (est.$30-$40,000) will be the highlight of the December 5^th sale, which also includes handwritten lyrics, letters, stage clothing, and assorted memorabilia.

Update: The 321-lot auction brought in over $700,000, or double the pre-sale estimate.

Last Of Madoff Loot To Sell

The yachts are gone, and so are the homes in New York, Long Island, and Palm Beach. Most of convicted swindler Bernie Madoff’s possessions have been sold. Some 400 things remain, however, like a 10.54 carat emerald cut diamond ring, a Steinway grand piano, and a pair of monogrammed black velveteen slippers. The U.S. Marshals will sell them next month in New York for the benefit of Madoff’s victims.

Bid For An Instrument , Or Make Your Own

Fine instruments, along with a stock of rare wood to make your own, will go up for auction at Skinner’s Boston gallery on Oct.10, 2010.

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