A violin made by the famed Antonio Stradivari in 1714 has the potential to become the most expensive musical instrument ever sold when it goes up for auction on Friday at Sotheby91裸聊视频檚 in New York.

The auction house is estimating the value of the 91裸聊视频淛oachim-Ma Stradivarius91裸聊视频� at $12 million to $18 million. If it sells at the top end of that range, it could best the $15.9 million paid in 2011 for another Stradivarius, the 91裸聊视频淟ady Blunt,91裸聊视频� made in 1721 and named by Guinness World Records as the most expensive instrument ever sold at auction.

Mari-Claudia Jimenez, Sotheby91裸聊视频檚 Americas president and head of global business, said Stradivari made the violin during his 91裸聊视频淕olden Period,91裸聊视频� which began around 1700 and was marked by an improvement in his craftmanship.

91裸聊视频淪o this is the peak of his output,91裸聊视频� Jimenez said. 91裸聊视频淭his is the best violin of this era.91裸聊视频�

Sotheby91裸聊视频檚 says the violin91裸聊视频檚 preservation is remarkable, and its ownership history extraordinary.

It91裸聊视频檚 named for two of its famed owners 91裸聊视频� violin virtuosos Joseph Joachim of Hungary, who lived from 1831 to 1907, and Si-Hon Ma, who was born in China in 1926, moved to the U.S. in 1948 and died 2009.

It is believed that legendary composer Johannes Brahms was influenced by the Joachim-Ma when he wrote his 91裸聊视频淰iolin Concerto in D Major91裸聊视频� because of its rich, resonant tone, and that Joachim played that violin during the concerto91裸聊视频檚 1879 premiere, according to Sotheby91裸聊视频檚.

Ma acquired the violin in 1969 and his estate gifted it to the New England Conservatory in Boston after his death. Ma attended the conservatory, where he earned a master91裸聊视频檚 degree in 1950. The conservatory is now putting the violin up for auction, with all the proceeds going to student scholarships.