'Molitor' Stradivarius: quick facts
The 'Molitor' is a violin made by Antonio Stradivari in 1697, before the height of his golden period. Its name comes from a French family associated with the Napoleonic era; the instrument was once said to have a connection to that circle. The 'Molitor' became internationally famous in 2010 when it sold at auction for what was, at the time, a record price for any musical instrument. The buyer was a concert violinist who plays it professionally. The sale drew wide attention to the upper reaches of the rare-instrument market and to how provenance and reputation can drive Stradivari prices.
Sources: Tarisio — Cozio Archive of stringed instruments; Library of Congress — Stradivari instruments / Whittall Collection; The Metropolitan Museum of Art — musical instruments collection; Smithsonian — National Music Museum / NMAH string instruments. Educational information only — not financial, investment, or appraisal advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.