Tarisio, the leading international venue for fine instruments and bows, is coming to Washington, DC on February 2, 2026, offering complimentary evaluations of violins, violas, cellos and bows. These evaluations can lead to placement in Tarisio’s year-round Private Sales or their record-breaking auctions.
Benjamin Gagnon, a specialist from Tarisio’s New York office, will be conducting the appointments. With strong expertise in assessing and authenticating rare string instruments and bows, Gagnon offers DMV-area string players, collectors and dealers a chance to get professional insights from one of the industry’s most respected authorities—without the trip to New York.
What can you expect during an evaluation? Gagnon will examine your instrument or bow and discuss with you its origin, authenticity, condition and current market value. Whether you inherited a violin from a family member, bought an instrument years ago and are curious about its resale value, ready for an upgrade, or maybe you’re just curious about what’s been sitting in your attic. Whatever the situation, these evaluations give you the information you need to make informed decisions for the future.
“There is nothing I love more than meeting clients and learning about the history and story behind their instrument, their career, or their journey to coming into possession of these cultural artifacts. Every instrument has its own unique story and it’s rewarding to be able to connect one steward to the next through these trips,” shares Gagnon.
Tarisio specialists have an unparalleled perspective on the market given the thousands of instruments and bows they examine every year. When they evaluate an instrument, they’re considering the maker’s identity and reputation, the condition and preservation, the provenance and historical significance and how similar instruments have been selling recently.
When Tarisio was founded in 1999, it changed how the fine instrument world operates. The company brought together serious expertise, operational efficiency and a commitment to doing business ethically. Today, they run the world’s largest online auction platform dedicated exclusively to fine string instruments and bows, holding 15 auctions annually across New York, London and Berlin.
Over its 25-year history, Tarisio has handled some remarkable sales including Isaac Stern’s estate collection, the ‘Lady Blunt’ Stradivarius of 1721, which sold for a world record $15.9 million, the ‘da Vinci, ex-Seidel’ Stradivarius of 1714 which sold for $15.3 million, the ‘Molitor’ Stradivarius of 1697 and the ‘Maazel’ Guadagnini of 1783. The list goes on.
Why get an evaluation? “Sometimes people just want to know more. Learning about your instrument’s history and maker can change how you think about the music you’re making with it. Many musicians play on instruments that they might like to learn more about, and I am always thrilled to provide the people I meet with more information,” says Gagnon.
Even if selling isn’t on your mind, understanding your instrument’s value and authenticity is essential when you’re making decisions about restoration, maintenance, insurance or upgrades.
If you are thinking about selling, Tarisio’s specialists can tell you about timing and strategy for bringing your instrument to market through their industry-leading auction platform or year-round, discrete and carefully curated Private Sales.
Regardless of your reason for wanting an evaluation, it is free, confidential and comes with no obligation.
To learn more about Tarisio’s Washington DC visit or to schedule your evaluation with Benjamin Gagnon, email info@tarisio.com or call (212) 307-7224. Tarisio also offers complimentary evaluations in other North American cities—contact them for details.