Christopher Reuning
Violin Expert, Chairman of Reuning & Son Violins
Christopher Reuning was born into a musical family and began playing cello at the age of seven. By twelve he had begun an apprenticeship as a violin maker in Philadelphia. Together with his parents, he went on to found Reuning & Son Violins, subsequently purchasing the business from them in 1982. In 1994, he relocated the business to Boston where it eventually found its place as one of the leading international dealers in fine, antique violins.
In 1999, Mr. Reuning founded Tarisio Auctions which has since become the leading auction house selling fine violins. He sold his share in that business in 2010 in order to more fully focus on his core business but remained as a consultant. Most notably, he oversaw the sale of the 1721 “Lady Blunt” Stradivari for the record sum of 15.9m USD in 2011. The next year, Reuning & Son Violins sold the 1707 “Paganini, Stainlein” Stradivari cello for a record sum for any cello. Mr. Reuning has devoted himself to the identification and historical study of old violins.
He can be counted as one of the world’s leading experts and cites the late Robert Bein and Charles Beare as influences. He has curated several important exhibitions in the US and Italy, most recently the 2010 exhibition in Cremona devoted to the Cremonese maker, Carlo Bergonzi. He currently is assisting Charles Beare with his widely anticipated book about Venetian violin makers.
Christopher Reuning
Violin Expert, Chairman of Reuning & Son Violins
Christopher Reuning was born into a musical family and began playing cello at the age of seven. By twelve he had begun an apprenticeship as a violin maker in Philadelphia. Together with his parents, he went on to found Reuning & Son Violins, subsequently purchasing the business from them in 1982. In 1994, he relocated the business to Boston where it eventually found its place as one of the leading international dealers in fine, antique violins.
In 1999, Mr. Reuning founded Tarisio Auctions which has since become the leading auction house selling fine violins. He sold his share in that business in 2010 in order to more fully focus on his core business but remained as a consultant. Most notably, he oversaw the sale of the 1721 “Lady Blunt” Stradivari for the record sum of 15.9m USD in 2011. The next year, Reuning & Son Violins sold the 1707 “Paganini, Stainlein” Stradivari cello for a record sum for any cello. Mr. Reuning has devoted himself to the identification and historical study of old violins.
He can be counted as one of the world’s leading experts and cites the late Robert Bein and Charles Beare as influences. He has curated several important exhibitions in the US and Italy, most recently the 2010 exhibition in Cremona devoted to the Cremonese maker, Carlo Bergonzi. He currently is assisting Charles Beare with his widely anticipated book about Venetian violin makers.