The violin of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini (Benito Mussolini) put up for auction, which is scheduled for May 12, 2014 and will be held in London.
The cost of the 300-year-old instrument, which once belonged to the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, by the way, a very talented violinist, was estimated at a minimum of $ 250,000. It is believed that Mussolini had the violin in the 1920s and 1930s when he ruled the country. Historians claim that the Italian dictator often played the instrument with his fourth son Romano.
The violin was made around 1700 by the famous Italian master Hieronymus Amati, whose grandfather owned the idea of creating this instrument. After the Second World War, the violin was not in the same hands, replaced several connoisseurs of art, and finally hit the Bonhams auction. It is noteworthy that along with the instrument for sale, a picture will also be exhibited with the image of Mussolini himself playing the violin, but not on the one in question.
Philip Scott (Phillip Scott), head of the musical instruments department of the auction house Bonhams, explained:
“This is a very old Italian violin that once belonged to Benito Mussolini. It was made in the 1700s by Jerome Amanti, the grandson of Andrea Amati, who made the world's first violin back in the 16th century. We believe that the instrument was located at Mussolini between the 1920s and 1930s. Few people know that he was a capable violinist ... if he only went to music, not politics. ”
Scott also noted that the authenticity of the violin was confirmed back in 1955 by an American expert. “Amanti’s violins are especially appreciated for their quality and beautiful sound,” continued the specialist. “The fact that this violin once belonged to such an important politician as Mussolini makes it even more valuable.”
Many historians believe that Benito Mussolini was the very person who brought to Europe the ideas of fascism, which later killed millions of people and broke the lives of even more of its victims. None other than Mussolini made Italy the first fascist state in the world back in the 1920s, and in 1933 acquired a supporter and ally - Adolf Hitler, who unleashed the Second World War. After the end of hostilities in Europe, the dictator was detained, but in 1945 he managed to escape. However, he was soon detained again and shot along with his mistress near the village of Mezzegra.
In February this year, employees of a special police department discovered a Stradivari violin stolen a couple of months ago, which was made by Antonio Stradivari in 1715 and whose cost is estimated at $ 5 million.
The tool was found in the attic of a house whose owner did not suspect that the creation of the legendary master was directly above his head. Authorities said three were detained on suspicion of theft of this item. Fortunately, the violin did not suffer during all the frauds performed by criminals. Later it was possible to establish that the robbers considered that the attic of their friend would be a great place to store their prey.
