MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AUCTIONS

The musical instrument auction department has been run for almost thirty years by a legendary luthier: Gilles Chancereul. He is now joined by Quentin Madon, an expert and auctioneer specialising in musical instruments.

Auctions specialising in musical instruments are held at the Musicora fairs.

Building on its success, the department has set up Appolium, a company specialising in online sales of musical instruments.

A sales department dedicated to players and music lovers

The department specialising in musical instruments has been so successful that Million has set up a dedicated company: Apollium, in reference to the god of musicians. This company offers online sales of musical instruments throughout the year, bringing together a large community of buyers, musicians, luthiers, collectors and enthusiasts.

The value of many instruments and bows has risen significantly in recent years, as shown by the results of our auctions: quartet instruments, wind instruments, bows and sheet music, etc.

As in painting, violin making is characterised by different artistic movements, schools and great names, whose creations are meticulously collected. Each violin maker, depending on his or her region, influence, expertise and history, has left his or her mark on the instrument he or she has carved.

Our team is delighted to be able to offer at auction all kinds of musical instruments and accessories related to this fascinating world.

It'sbeen almost 30 years since the living legend of the luthier's craft, Master Luthier Gilles CHANCEREUL, saw in auctioning with Millon a perfect parallel to his passion. Since then, MUSICORA and MILLON have organised a musical instrument auction almost every year.

Sales calendar for the Musical Instruments department

Apollium organises four specialist sales a year, including one at the Seine Musicale in Paris, as part of the Musicora trade fair for music and musicians, as well as charity sales such as the collection of Max GUAZZINI's gold records.

The sales take place in the auction rooms and are conducted by an auctioneer.

In addition to these four special events, online sales are organised throughout the year.

Some auction prices

At our auctions of musical instruments (stringed, wind or percussion), there are significant differences in the prices awarded depending on the maker or manufacturer. The prestige of the luthier can lead to record prices. This was the case, for example, with an exceptional violin made around 1850 by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, which sold for €95,000, and a Caressa cello that fetched €35, 000 from MILLON Apollium.

For Gilles Chancereul, the bow is "the continuity of the musician's hand, but also a real jewel". As a result, the work of the best bow-makers is highly sought-after today. Collectors fight to acquire a French creation by François-Xavier Tourte (1747-1835), a veritable Stradivarius of the bow. Numerous other examples confirm the passion musicians and collectors have for bows, such as the sale of a violin bow by Etienne PAJEOT sold by Apollium for €42,000.

Our services

Would you like to know the value of your musical instrument?

From the gracious appraisal of your bows, violas, violins and cellos ,Gilles Chancereul, violin maker and expert , andQuentin Madon, specialist and auction administrator, will accompany you through to the conclusion of the auction.

We will be happy to arrange a meeting with you or to give you an initial opinion based on a photo sent by email or via our website. Following their valuation, violins, cellos, bows, harps, mandoras and sheet music received as an inheritance could receive a bidding concert at one of our next auctions!

Would you like a free and confidential estimate? Our team is here to help, with no obligation on your part