No bargains: Marconi’s violin fetches $1 million

A purported Antonio Stradivari which once belonged to Alfonso Marconi (pictured), brother of the radio pioneer, sold today at Sotheby’s London for £624,000 – more than three times its pre-sale estimate.

Celebrity, celebrity….

press release:

The London-based specialist musical instrument auctioneers Ingles & Hayday today (Tuesday, October 28, 2014) sold a violin attributed to Antonio Stradivari which once belonged to Alfonso Marconi, brother of the famous radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi, for £624,000 – more than three times its pre-sale top estimate – at Sotheby’s, New Bond Street, London. It was estimated to fetch £140,000-180,000 and was bought by Italian musician, Abner Colombo on the telephone.