Hongkong auction for the "Mac Donald"

[robertdo]

People seem to brace themselves for a new record at the auction of the Stradivarius MacDonald viola.

[not telling]

Anyone want to take bets on what it will fetch? I guess the reserve may not be met. It's a decent bet in this case, although I believe there probably are buyers at the ready. Sky's the limit.

OP, do you have more info? Is the auction happening today?

Eta...just read in the LA Times that we don't get to hear the result until June 25.

[robertdo]

No really more information. I just saw this small video on the french news.

http://www.lemonde.fr/culture/video/2014/04/04/un-stradivarius-pour-45-millions-de-dollars_4396093_3246.html

they say they expect even more than 45 millions.

[Violadamore]

 

they say they expect even more than 45 millions.

That's a lot of Big Macs.   For that kind of money I could corner the Dutzend market 

[hendrik]

Would Sotheby put out this kind of reserve and risk looking a bit say uninformed if it wasn't met?

Doubtful.  Chances are they have already contacted interested parties and know what they are doing.

[Will L]

Is the 45 million an estimate or a reserve?  I doubt it's a reserve.

[gowan]

Supposedly bidding starts at 45 million USD so I guess you could say it's a reserve, technically, but maybe there is an even higher reserve.

[Omobono]

The blurb here mentions:

"The 'Macdonald' Viola by Antonio Stradivari will be offered via sealed bid by Sotheby's and Ingles & Hayday."

 

Anyone know how common or otherwise this is in the instrument trade?

 

http://www.sothebys.com/content/sothebys/en/news-video/videos/2014/03/the-macdonald-viola-by-stradivari.html