一把斯特拉迪瓦里小提琴在拍卖会上以1130万美元的价格成交，低于历史最高纪录

A

Stradivarius violin sold for $11.25 million at auction on Friday,

showing the continued appeal of the legendary instruments, yet falling

short of a record.

Video from the auction at

Sotheby's in New York City shows auctioneer Phyllis Kao opening bidding

at $8 million. Bids quickly rose to $10 million, then bidding ceased.

The final price includes

auction house fees. Sotheby's said it could not share information about

the identity of the buyer. The auction house had expected the instrument

to sell for $12 to $18 million.

Sotheby's referred to

the violin as the Joachim-Ma violin, which was built by Antonio

Stradivari in 1714 in Cremona, Italy. It was most notable for having

been played for decades by Joseph Joachim, one of the most famous

violinists of the 19th century. It was acquired by violinist Si-Hon Ma

in 1967, whose estate donated it to the New England Conservatory after

his death.

The Conservatory, which

has had the violin for the last decade, said the sale proceeds will go

toward a scholarship program.

"The sale is

transformational for future students, and proceeds will establish the

largest named endowed scholarship at New England Conservatory. It has

been an honor to have the Joachim-Ma Stradivari on campus, and we are

eager to watch its legacy continue on the world stage," Andrea Kalyn,

the Conservatory's president, said in a statement.

The record for the

biggest sum paid for a musical instrument at auction remains with the

"Lady Blunt" Stradivarius, made in 1721, which fetched $15.9 million in

2011.