Song Liqiang (left) and Zhang Maolun (second left), who jointly launched a violin crowdfunding program, and a crowdfunding participant (right) pose for a photo with renowned Chinese violinist Liu Xiao. （Photo provided to China Daily）
"We found a flow (of trade) happened in recent years - more fine instruments moved from Europe to Asian countries, such as Japan, China and (South) Korea," he said, adding that the increasing demand from Asian markets has played a role in driving up prices for the instruments.
In 2014, a "General Dupont Grumiaux" Stradivarius violin made in 1727 was sold to an anonymous collector in China, becoming the first Stradivarius to be owned by a private individual in the country.
Tim Ingles, director of Ingles & Hayday, a specialist fine and rare musical instrument auction house and dealership, also feels optimistic about the growth potential of the Chinese musical instrument market.
"Interest in Western classical music and Western art is a relatively recent phenomenon in China, but it is now spreading fast, with new concert halls being built in many major cities and leading US and European orchestras visiting for concerts. This will inevitably create a general interest in classical music and in fine musical instruments," Ingles said.
In the meantime, a rising number of soloists in China, who need great instruments, are driving up the demand, he said.
There are already some wealthy collectors who are buying violins by Stradivari and Guarneri and loaning them to soloists.
Apart from professional dealers who have years of experiences, some domestic amateurs are trying to bring rare investment collections to common music lovers in China.
Two Beijing-based musicians, for instance, are about to finish a one-year violin crowdfunding program in March, the first of its kind in the country.
Zhang Maolun, a Beijing-based legal consultant and an amateur violinist, has long considered the idea of bringing rare instrument collections to more people and getting them together to learn more about the collections.
He discussed the idea with his friend - and eventual partner - Song Liqiang, a cellist who owned an instrument store near the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.
A total of 500,000 yuan ($79,750) will be raised through the crowdfunding program, and all investors are assured of repayment in cash plus interest after one year.
The idea was that investors would lend them the money to lease a violin for one year, during which time the two dealers will find the next buyer with a higher price so that investors are able to receive returns as pledged after the deal is closed.
During the period, the investors are able to play the violin and participate in lecture events held by musicians.
The idea remained vague until Liu Xiao, a renowned Chinese violinist and a professor with the Central Conservatory of Music, commissioned Song to sell his violin in his instrument store.
The violin was made during their golden period by famous Italian violin makers Lorenzo and Tomaso Carcassi, brothers who are believed to have been pupils of the well-known master Giovanni Battista Gabrielli.
"The violin fits all the requirements for the crowdfunding program," said Song, who often travels around the globe to collect instruments. "It's well-preserved and has a proper value that can be afforded by a small number of people."
Zhang and Song contacted Florian Leonhard, one of the world's finest living violin makers and authenticators, to get a certification for the violin's condition and quality, which added value to the instrument.
They decided to raise a total of 500,000 yuan split into 50 shares, each of which is guaranteed to receive a fixed return in one year, according to the contract.
