Support Real S.L comments on Stradivarius Cello Broken in accident In Spain

May 28, 2012 - PRLog -- A  Stradivarius cello housed at the Spanish Royal Palace was broken in an accident, an official said on Monday. The instrument could be worth more than $20 million.
A National Heritage official declined to specify what went wrong but recent reports suggest the priceless artefact fell off a table during a photo shoot. Support Real S.L said “To see such a beautiful instrument damaged brings sadness to the hearts of Spain. The Stradivarius was once housed in the Spanish Royal Palace it’s a piece of history our only hope is that it can be repaired.” The damage that was sustained was that a piece that joins the neck of the 17th-century instrument to the body of it broke and fell off the rest of the cello. That piece was not original but rather a replacement installed in the 19th century.

It's a museum curator's worst nightmare when a priceless antique falls off a table and breaks. “This is a piece of history we are proud to say that it is a beautiful instrument from Spain and proud to have it photographed.” Said a source for Support Real S.L “What happened could have happened to anyone it’s the risks one takes when dealing with priceless artefacts, the main point now is to make sure the Cello is repaired and restored to its glory.” The officials said the cello can and will be repaired, but the cost of this work and the breakage's impact on the instrument's value is not clear.

The cello is one of five antique instruments made by Italian Antonio Stradivari, renowned for the exquisite sound of his instruments that were acquired by king Felipe V who ruled Spain at the turn of the 18th century. The instruments were given the quartet name because they were commissioned at the same time.

Tim Ingles, head of the musical instrument department at Sotheby's auction house in London, placed the $20 million price tag on the instrument. “Only the best musicians have ever had the honor to play these wonderful instruments that’s why we take so much pride in them. They are indispensible and mean a lot to our Country. We are proud to show these Items and I’m sure when the Stradivarius Cello is repaired the photographs will be spectacular.” said a source close to Support Real S.L.