With interest in western classical music rising in Asia, it was only a matter of time before dealers of rare and valuable western instruments took the step of bringing them in significant numbers directly to buyers in the region, sparing them the time and expense of having to visit auction houses in Europe.
On Thursday Casa Guarneri is launching such a venture in Hong Kong with an auction of violins, violas and cellos of European origin; viewing begins on Wednesday. The company is owned by French violin-maker Pierre Barthel and Christian Secretan, a cellist and collector of bows based in Switzerland. Together, they have been touring the main auction houses in Europe and the US for more than 20 years, and they understand Asia's potential in the market.
'There are some magnificent collections of string quartet instruments in Taiwan,' Secretan says. 'One of them - the Chi Mei Culture Foundation - has an extraordinary collection, which is probably the largest in the world.'
The 240 lots being brought to Hong Kong have been previewed in Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing. With a total estimated value of between HK$25 million and HK$30 million, the catalogue includes a number of instruments made around the turn of the 18th century. Commanding the highest prices are a mint condition violin made by Carlo Giuseppe Testore in 1706 and a 1682 violin by Gioffredo Cappa, one of the oldest items on sale. Both are expected to fetch between HK$1.8 million and HK$2 million. Also on offer is a 1720 Contreras cello.
Prized bows, such as the one for a violin made by Francois Xavier Tourte in 1795, can command prices similar to the best instruments. Secretan describes Tourte's craftsmanship as perfection in every detail. 'The extremely dense and superior quality of the wood, the perfect workmanship, the balance and the elasticity of the stick make them so wonderful to play.'
Brian Hodgson of Hong Kong Auctions is in charge of the bidding, both live and over the internet. 'I'll be selling one item per minute, so it's a fast-paced auction,' he says. Two lots will be auctioned to raise funds for the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation.