Having held just two sales so far, Tarisio has managed to become a major player, finding top instruments and combining these finds with solid expertise .. so meteoric its rise has been that Sotheby's now regards Tarisio as its principal rival.
The main instrument of Tarisio's second sale, held in early May, was a 1616 Brothers Amati viola .. fetching $775,000, the highest price paid at auction for a viola .. The sales totaled nearly 2.3m, with 77% of lots sold. In the current climate this is some achievement. The main carrot for vendors is the low commission: buyers pay 10% and sellers (on items above $7,000) 2.5% and no insurance fee.
