![The 'Macdonald' viola made by Italian artisan Antonio Stradivari in 1719 is seen at Sotheby's gallery during a preview before Sotheby's Spring Sales in Hong Kong April 4, 2014. The rare Stradivari The 'Macdonald' viola made by Italian artisan Antonio Stradivari in 1719 is seen at Sotheby's gallery during a preview before Sotheby's Spring Sales in Hong Kong April 4, 2014. The rare Stradivari](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2E6C81X/the-macdonald-viola-made-by-italian-artisan-antonio-stradivari-in-1719-is-seen-at-sothebys-gallery-during-a-preview-before-sothebys-spring-sales-in-hong-kong-april-4-2014-the-rare-stradivari-viola-considered-to-be-one-of-the-finest-in-existence-is-expected-to-fetch-more-than-45-million-in-a-sealed-bids-sale-this-spring-which-would-set-a-world-record-for-the-most-expensive-musical-instrument-ever-sold-reuterstyrone-siu-china-tags-business-society-wealth-2E6C81X.jpg)
The 'Macdonald' viola made by Italian artisan Antonio Stradivari in 1719 is seen at Sotheby's gallery during a preview before Sotheby's Spring Sales in Hong Kong April 4, 2014. The rare Stradivari
Facts Zone - The world's most #expensive #musical #instrument, a Stradivarius violin, was sold in 2011 for US$15.9 million. #FactoftheDay #FactsZone | Facebook
![Violist David Aaron Carpenter of the U.S. holds the 'Macdonald' Viola by Antonio Stradivari, made in 1719, at Sotheby's gallery in New York March 27, 2014. The 'Macdonald' Viola, a rare Stradivari Violist David Aaron Carpenter of the U.S. holds the 'Macdonald' Viola by Antonio Stradivari, made in 1719, at Sotheby's gallery in New York March 27, 2014. The 'Macdonald' Viola, a rare Stradivari](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2CX9WY3/violist-david-aaron-carpenter-of-the-us-holds-the-macdonald-viola-by-antonio-stradivari-made-in-1719-at-sothebys-gallery-in-new-york-march-27-2014-the-macdonald-viola-a-rare-stradivari-viola-considered-to-be-one-of-the-finest-in-existence-is-expected-to-fetch-more-than-45-million-in-a-sealed-bids-sale-this-spring-which-would-set-a-world-record-for-the-most-expensive-musical-instrument-ever-sold-the-viola-is-the-first-to-be-on-the-market-in-50-years-according-to-sothebys-auction-house-reuterseduardo-munoz-united-states-tags-entertainment-society-2CX9WY3.jpg)
Violist David Aaron Carpenter of the U.S. holds the 'Macdonald' Viola by Antonio Stradivari, made in 1719, at Sotheby's gallery in New York March 27, 2014. The 'Macdonald' Viola, a rare Stradivari
BEFORE EIGHT - For the past couple of decades, the market for fine Italian string instruments—namely, violins, violas, and cellos—has been hitting the highest notes… in value. In 2011, the "Lady Blunt"
![Amazon.com: The Violin: A Social History of the World's Most Versatile Instrument (Audible Audio Edition): David Schoenbaum, Mark Ashby, Audible Studios: Books Amazon.com: The Violin: A Social History of the World's Most Versatile Instrument (Audible Audio Edition): David Schoenbaum, Mark Ashby, Audible Studios: Books](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nmSAYo9aL.jpg)
Amazon.com: The Violin: A Social History of the World's Most Versatile Instrument (Audible Audio Edition): David Schoenbaum, Mark Ashby, Audible Studios: Books
![The 'Macdonald' viola made by Italian artisan Antonio Stradivari in 1719 is seen at Sotheby's gallery during a preview before Sotheby's Spring Sales in Hong Kong April 4, 2014. The rare Stradivari The 'Macdonald' viola made by Italian artisan Antonio Stradivari in 1719 is seen at Sotheby's gallery during a preview before Sotheby's Spring Sales in Hong Kong April 4, 2014. The rare Stradivari](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2CWWX16/the-macdonald-viola-made-by-italian-artisan-antonio-stradivari-in-1719-is-seen-at-sothebys-gallery-during-a-preview-before-sothebys-spring-sales-in-hong-kong-april-4-2014-the-rare-stradivari-viola-considered-to-be-one-of-the-finest-in-existence-is-expected-to-fetch-more-than-45-million-in-a-sealed-bids-sale-this-spring-which-would-set-a-world-record-for-the-most-expensive-musical-instrument-ever-sold-reuterstyrone-siu-china-tags-business-society-wealth-2CWWX16.jpg)
The 'Macdonald' viola made by Italian artisan Antonio Stradivari in 1719 is seen at Sotheby's gallery during a preview before Sotheby's Spring Sales in Hong Kong April 4, 2014. The rare Stradivari
![Violist David Aaron Carpenter holds the 'Macdonald' Viola by Antonio Stradivari, made in 1719, during a presentation at Sotheby's auction house in Paris April 15, 2014. The 'Macdonald' viola, a rare Stradivarius Violist David Aaron Carpenter holds the 'Macdonald' Viola by Antonio Stradivari, made in 1719, during a presentation at Sotheby's auction house in Paris April 15, 2014. The 'Macdonald' viola, a rare Stradivarius](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2CXMNNW/violist-david-aaron-carpenter-holds-the-macdonald-viola-by-antonio-stradivari-made-in-1719-during-a-presentation-at-sothebys-auction-house-in-paris-april-15-2014-the-macdonald-viola-a-rare-stradivarius-viola-considered-to-be-one-of-the-finest-in-existence-will-be-on-sale-in-june-where-it-is-expected-to-fetch-more-than-45-million-which-would-set-a-world-record-for-the-most-expensive-musical-instrument-ever-sold-it-is-one-of-only-two-violas-made-during-his-golden-period-1700-1720-where-he-is-said-to-have-produced-his-finest-instruments-reuterscharles-platiau-france-t-2CXMNNW.jpg)