NEW YORK CITY, New York: A rare Stradivarius violin dating back to 1714 is set to go under the hammer at Sotheby's in New York on Friday, with experts predicting it could become the most expensive musical instrument ever sold.

The "Joachim-Ma Stradivarius" is expected to fetch between US$12 million and $18 million. Suppose it reaches the upper end of that range. In that case, it will surpass the $15.9 million record set by another Stradivarius, the "Lady Blunt," which was auctioned in 2011 and recognized by Guinness World Records as the most expensive instrument ever sold.

Mari-Claudia Jimenez, Sotheby's Americas president and head of global business, emphasized the violin's significance, stating: "So this is the peak of his output. This is the best violin of this era." Stradivari's "Golden Period," which spanned the early 1700s, is widely considered the pinnacle of his craftsmanship, making instruments from this era highly prized.

Beyond its exceptional quality, the violin boasts a remarkable history. It was once owned by two legendary musicians, Joseph Joachim of Hungary (1831-1907) and Si-Hon Ma (1926-2009), who was born in China and later moved to the U.S. in 1948.

According to Sotheby's, Johannes Brahms may have been inspired by this very violin when composing his "Violin Concerto in D Major," and Joachim is believed to have played it during the concerto's 1879 premiere.

Si-Hon Ma acquired the violin in 1969, and following his passing, his estate donated it to the New England Conservatory in Boston, where he earned a master's degree in 1950. Now, the conservatory is auctioning the instrument, with all proceeds going to student scholarships.