Ex-Primrose Guarneri

[4] It bears an original label of Andrea Guarneri who died in 1698, but experts believe that they can recognise the workmanship of his son Giuseppe.

The son (also known as Joseph Guarneri 'filius Andrea') showed a characteristic style when making sound holes, for example.

The viola was acquired by the Rembert Wurlitzer Company in the 1950s and came to Primrose's attention.

It was then sold in 1978 to Ulrich Fritze,[4] who played the viola during his 30-year tenure as principal violist of the Berlin Philharmonic.

[5] The viola was sold in 2012 by Tarisio "for over $4 million, the highest price paid for a Guarneri family instrument at auction and the highest publicly recorded price for a viola of any type".