Einstein's Violin: A Musical Journey Through Time

A violin that once belonged to the renowned scientist Albert Einstein has been sold at auction for an astonishing £860,000. The 1894 Zunterer violin, believed to be Einstein's first, far exceeded the initial expectations of around £300,000 when it went under the hammer at Dominic Winter Auctioneers in Gloucestershire, England.

Einstein's passion for music was well-known. He began learning the violin at the age of four and continued playing throughout his life. The famous physicist once remarked that if he hadn't pursued a career in science, he would have chosen to be a musician.

The auction also included other items associated with Einstein. A philosophy book he gifted to a friend sold for £2,200. These items were given by Einstein to his colleague Max von Laue in late 1932, shortly before Einstein fled to America to escape the rising antisemitism in Germany.

Once the auction house's commission is added, the final price for the violin will surpass £1 million, potentially setting a record for a violin not previously owned by a concert violinist or made by Stradivarius.