The violin that Leila Josefowicz used as her main concert instrument for the last twelve years was sold at a London auction yesterday. The violin fetched £156,000 (including buyer's premium) at Ingles & Hayday. The instrument, dated around 1750, was catalogued as 'probably by Michele Angelo Bergonzi' with 'the front possibly by another hand, 18th-century Italian' and 'the head later'. It carried an estimate of £100,000–£150,000.
Auctioneer Tim Ingles said that the violin was bought by a foundation that will loan it out. He added: 'The player history was probably a factor in the buyer's decision to bid for it, but the bigger factor was that it was a great-sounding violin.'
Other highlights of the 140-lot sale included a Storioni viola that went for £276,000 on an estimate of £100,000–£150,000, and a gold and tortoiseshell-mounted Sartory violin bow that made £42,000.
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