The London auctioneer, one of the leading showcases for mult-million Stradivarius and Guarnerius sales, has shut down its precious instrument business to concentrate on the more profitable fine art market.
Its two specialist salesman have set up independently in Wigmore Street as Ingles & Hayday.
The Strad has the story. Here’s the Sotheby’s announcement. End of an era.
Am I the only one who considers this as good news? The sale of instruments at auction to speculators has driven these instruments out of the reach of most performers. Now, if only we can count on honest luthiers…