A Stradivarius violin that was stolen from its owner at Euston station by a thief who tried to sell it for just £100 has been sold at auction for nearly £1.4 million.
The 317-year-old instrument was taken from internationally acclaimed violinist Min-Jin Kym while she was eating at Pret a Manger with her cellist boyfriend three years ago.
John Maughan, who stole the violin and was jailed for the offence in 2011 before the instrument was recovered, tried unsuccessfully to sell it for £100 to a bus driver who told him: “My daughter already has a recorder.”
The violin was discovered, undamaged, in the Midlands in July and was sold yesterday by auction house Tarisio for £1,385,000.
The buyer is thought to be a British music festival led by an English violinist.
Some of the proceeds will go to the authorities who helped recover the violin, which was made in Cremona, Italy, in 1696 by Antonio Stradivarius and is one of just 450 in the world.
Tarisio director Jason Price said: “We congratulate the new owner and wish them the best of luck and success with the violin. We are delighted that it will be played and enjoyed for many more years to come and that it will actively contribute to the musical vibrancy of this country through the festival.”
Miss Kym, who had replaced it with another Stradivarius, told of how she went from “devastation to elation” when her “faithful friend” was found.
