Rare Stradivarius violin could fetch up to $1.5m at NYC auction

London, Mar 29 : An 18th century Stradivari violin is expected to fetch as much as 1.5 million dollars at an auction in New York.

The rare violin, known as "The Penny," is named after its previous owner, the pianist and violinist Barbara Penny, the first woman accepted in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra strings section.

The violin will go under the hammer at Christie's auction house on April 4.

"This one has an especially good balance between the brightness and the sweetness," BBC quoted Jesus Reina, a violinist from the Manhattan School of Music, as saying.

In 2006, another 1729 Stradivari violin, known as the Hammer fetched 3.5m dollars, also at an auction at Christie's.

Antonio Stradivari is considered to be the most distinguished craftsman of the instrument who had made over 1,000 violins, violas and violoncellos.

He was commissioned by King James II of England and King Charles III of Spain.

ANI