A violin called the 'Lady Blunt' sold for $15.9 million in 2011, making it the most expensive musical instrument ever sold at a public auction.

Antonio Stradivari made about 1,100 instruments in Cremona, Italy. Today, only about 650 of them still exist. The Lady Blunt is one of the two best-preserved examples in the world.Scientists use a method called dendrochronology to study the wood in these violins. This involves looking at the growth rings of trees. The wood used for many Stradivarius instruments grew during the Little Ice Age between 1645 and 1715.Cold weather caused trees to grow slowly. This made the wood very dense, which changed how it vibrated. A 2017 study found that Stradivari also treated the wood with chemicals like borax and copper. These chemicals were meant to stop bugs from eating the wood, but they also changed the sound.The record-breaking sale happened at the Tarisio auction house in London on June 20, 2011. The money from the sale went to help people in Japan after a major earthquake and tsunami. While some private sales might be higher, this remains the official record for a public auction.