Post by Taxigirl on Nov 12, 2003 10:32:48 GMT
A Stradivarius violin has sold at auction at Sotheby's, London, for more than £767,200.
A 1736 cello also made by the master craftsman was also put up for auction but failed to sell.
The violin's hammer price was £680,000 but the figure increased after VAT and auctioneers fees.
About 650 of the prized Stradivari instruments still exist today and the world record price for one of his violins is £947,500.
On Monday a 1700 Stradivarius violin valued at £600,000 failed to sell at Bonhams.
The Bonhams violin was believed to be The Petri violin, named after Professor Henri Willem Petri, a famous Dutch violinist who once owned the instrument.
It had remained in the same family for three generations, and arrived at Bonhams from a family collection in Europe.