Playable Art: Inside the Secret World of MI Auctions

Aaron BluntMusic Products Seminar

MI AuctionsKerry Keane with Eric Clapton

Clapton is putting up his A-Team of Fender Strats for auction.

The auction earned $5,072,350.Pop-related market is growing.These pieces are meeting the earning record of violins at

auctions.

ValueSome instruments have a famous history:

Joshua Bell’s Stradivarius ViolinBronislaw Huberman (1882– 1947)Julian Altman 1936; 2001 $4 million

Items given by the families of the original owners“Live” auction bidders can be in-room, via telephone or

Christie Live.

Auction Houses: Skinner, Christie’s and Sotheby’s Christie’s

Founded in 17662008 $5.1 billionMI Department Head, Kerry KeaneCountry Music Sale December 3, 2009.

Roy Rogers, Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, Johnny and June Carter Cash etc

Christie’sFive Fundamentals for Auction Worth

Attribution: Who made it?QualityConditionFreshness: Hasn’t been brought to auction for years or yet

to be discoveredProvenance: Passion around the sale; Eric Clapton

Christie’sWho’s Buying

Private CollectorsProfessional Musicians

Skinner Representative, Bonsey

75% Business with the violin family20% Guitars and other fretted instruments5% Winds

SkinnerMarket Building

Lloyd Loar F5 Mandolins 40k to 200k Growth59 Les Paul Avg 260k

SkinnerEconomic Nature

Confidence in growthViolins market remains steady

Guitar market has spiked and leveledSolid-body electrics popular

AppreciationRarity“Fine Tangibles”

Sotheby’sFounded in 1744Representative, Tim Ingles

Cellist and Head of Musical Instruments 10 yearsPrimarily Violin Market1980s JapanCurrent Chinese Market

10 million violinistsLimited: Premium Italian Violins

Loaning to professional playersBeyond Strings

Flemish and English Pianos and Harpsichords; 1820 Archived

National Music Museum

National Music Museum

National Music Museum

National Music Museum