Buying Violins at Auction: A Personal Overview

(photo courtesy of Tarisio.com)

I’ve bought violins and bows across major auction houses—both in person and online—and wanted to share some of my experience as a buyer.
For purposes of this post, “auction” refers to established violin houses (e.g., Tarisio, Ingles & Hayday), rather than one-off or general platforms like eBay.

Auctions can be exciting—and, at times, addictive. Many people have found instruments that work well for them, with some even achieving strong returns.

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So—Should You Buy at Auction?

It depends on what you’re looking for.

If you enjoy violins and the process, and are comfortable with some uncertainty, auctions can be a rewarding way to explore instruments.

Auctions are also attended by:

• collectors who prioritize ownership over playability
• players on a budget who know exactly what they’re looking for and can evaluate quickly
• dealers with a clear sense of what they’re after

However, if you’re a parent upgrading a child’s instrument, or a player looking for a main instrument without much familiarity on the “hardware” side, auctions may not always be the most straightforward path.

Much depends on the instrument, the maker, and your ability to assess it.

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A Few Personal Experiences

I once bought a beautifully made, gold-mounted bow in perfect condition—without having tried it. It was made by a maker my violin teacher swore by. On paper, it checked every box. So what could go wrong?

The bow turned out to be unplayable, producing barely half the volume of my other bows.

I also purchased a modern Italian violin that I loved visually—but never tried. It was well made, in great condition, and showed signs of having been played seriously. But the sound didn’t work for me. It sat unsold for years in a shop before I eventually resold it at auction.

Other times, I’ve bought well and things worked out—but that was usually a mix of experience, timing, and some luck.

Instruments end up at auction for many reasons. Some may have sat in shops for extended periods; others come from private owners or estates. While certain backstories may seem more promising than others, they still don’t guarantee how an instrument will perform.

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Auctions as an Investment

From the outside, auctions can seem like an opportunity to “buy low” and later sell at a profit.

In general, quality instruments may appreciate over the long term (think 5–10+ years), but outcomes are far less predictable in the short run.

Today, many auctions are highly competitive. Retail buyers are active, and ‘good’ instruments are frequently bid up to levels that reflect their perceived value.

Resale also comes with its own considerations:

• Selling through a shop involves commission (usually around 20%)
• Instruments may take time to sell—or may not sell at all
• Additional costs (setup, adjustments) can affect overall return

If an instrument doesn’t sell in a retail environment over time, you might have to consider reselling at auction — where the hope is often to break even at best.

In many situations, meaningful returns depend more on long-term appreciation than short-term resale.

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A Note on Contemporary Instruments

One area that behaves a bit differently is contemporary work.

High-quality contemporary violins and bows are increasingly in demand, and the most sought-after makers often have waitlists. As a result, their instruments don’t appear at auction much —and if they do, they are typically bid on competitively.

At the same time, some excellent 19th- and 20th-century instruments—while historically significant and widely known—are more consistently available in both shops and auctions.

For that reason, contemporary instruments can sometimes reflect a different kind of scarcity in today’s market. That doesn’t necessarily make them “better,” but they are often less readily available on the open market.

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Final Thoughts

Auctions can offer real opportunities—but outcomes tend to favor experience, patience, and a clear understanding of what you’re buying.

If you’re exploring auctions, I’m always happy to offer a second opinion—I genuinely enjoy talking through these decisions.

I also enjoy learning how others approach the process—what you look for, what’s worked, and what hasn’t.

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