Why sell your musical instrument at auction ?
Hector Chemelle, violinist and head of the Instruments and Bows department at the Aguttes auction house, shares key insights.
What are the advantages of selling your violin, viola, cello, or bow at auction ?
Selling your instrument with Aguttes means choosing a quick sale, with three to four auctions organized annually, ensuring the transparency of a public sale, and benefiting from the expertise of a trusted third party and a major player in the international art market.
Selling in Paris also provides your instrument with optimal visibility to our specialized clientele. We gather a large community of buyers, including virtuosos, luthiers, collectors, and enthusiasts, over 80% of whom are international. The competition between these players fuels auction dynamics, ensuring the highest prices and frequent record-breaking results.
Aguttes also opens the auction world to musicians, traditionally reserved for intermediary professionals. I regularly receive requests from instrumentalists searching for a new instrument, and I do my best to ensure that buyers can test instruments by appointment under optimal conditions.
Finally, your instrument benefits from the rigorous selection of our lots, backed by renowned experts, our expertise in communication, and the exceptional international exposure of our auctions. By choosing to sell at auction, you are joining a dynamic and thriving market where the enthusiasm for fine instruments and pieces of cultural heritage remains strong.
How do you support your sellers in their process ?
As a former professional violinist, I am aware of the challenges associated with this market and therefore fully understand the expectations of both sellers and buyers.
Since each approach is different, my primary role is to offer advice. I can provide information on whether it is the right time to sell or invest, or help in finding a specific sound or playing characteristics. My clients benefit from my experience as a musician, my knowledge of instruments and the market, as well as my network of buyers and experts.
My goal is to then define the best strategy to showcase and promote the instruments entrusted to me, guiding my clients through each step of the process until final payment, while ensuring the emotional legacy of each piece is preserved.
What are the most sought-after pieces in the market today ?
The excellent results and frequent record-breaking auctions confirm the market’s strong performance. Instruments, both antique and modern, from Master makers, particularly from French and Italian schools, remain highly coveted.
With its rich musical tradition and prestigious lineage of instrument making, France continues to be a remarkable source of quality pieces that collectors compete for. French bows, in particular, enjoy an unparalleled international reputation and are often among the star lots of our sales.
Beyond an instrument’s age and intrinsic qualities, its condition and the name of its maker greatly influence its value. Certificates of authenticity have thus become essential for the finest pieces, which is why we provide them for each of our sales with the assistance of our experts.
What are the strengths of the Aguttes auction house in this market ?
Aguttes is a French auction house founded by Claude Aguttes 50 years ago. Remaining independent with three children involved and a team of sixty people, it has risen to the rank of a major player in the art market.
A historical specialty of the Aguttes house, the Musical Instruments & Bows department highlights the work of the finest luthiers and bow makers, showcasing jewels whose resonance attests to a unique craftsmanship. For example, in June 2022, a Guarnerius “del Gesù” violin was sold for 3.3 million euros. Paris, a key hub in the art and music market, offers an exceptional showcase for carefully selected items.
During our campaigns, we engage buyers from our extensive portfolio across all specialties, as well as identified potential buyers, to provide each item with the platform needed to achieve the highest sale price.
Successful bidding
Violin by Bartolomeo Giuseppe Exceptional violin by d’Annibale Fagnola Exceptional violin by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume
Guarnerius «Del Gesù» (1698-1744) made in 1910 made in Cremona in 1871
made in Cremona in 1736 €101,400 €219,480
€3,385,000
Exceptional violin bow Exceptional violin bow Exceptional violin bow
by Eugène Sartory by Victor Fétique by Dominique Peccate
made around 1920 made around 1925 made around 1850
€37,700 World record, €31,700 €91,700
French violinist Hector Chemelle began his musical journey with the Maîtrise of the Opéra National de Lyon, where he discovered the stage and received a comprehensive artistic education. He then turned to learning the violin and, in 2003, won the 2nd Prize at the "Nutcracker" International Competition for Young Musicians in Moscow. He was subsequently admitted to the Conservatoire de Paris (CNSMDP) and also pursued his studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Following his training, Hector performed with leading French orchestras and worked under the direction of renowned conductors. He is also a founding member of the Arod Quartet. His musical career sparked an early interest in the fascinating world of historical instruments and violin making.
