(color photo courtesy of BrendonEsposito)

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The violin, not played since 1953, has a rich, dark sound. The Carrodus, named after John Carrodus, a leading English violinist of the Victorian era. One of only 100 or so made by del Gesu, it has been described as "one of the four or five finest of the finest" violins in the world, by the respected London dealer Charles Beare. A violin valued at $10 million, now in the hands of Australian Chamber Orchestra's artistic director Richard Tognetti since January 2007.