A talented guitarist and banjo player with a strong love for American fretted instruments, Kerry Keane has been influential in establishing and growing Christie's presence in the international auction market of fine musical instruments. At Christie’s since 1999, Mr. Keane has sold "The Lady Tennant" violin by Antonio Stradivari, setting the world auction record for a Stradivari sold for $2,032,000 in April 2005. He also achieved the world auction record of $292,000 for an important violin by Nicolo Amati (2001); $459,833 for a fine violin by Giuseppe Guarneri filius Andreae (2002); and $93,210 for a classical guitar by Herman Hauser, Sr. (2003).
An expert builder and restorer of string instruments and in the musical instrument trade for more than 30 years, Mr. Keane learned his craft with master guitar builder Augustino Lo Prinzi. He studied at the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City and learned Italian violin making techniques in Cremona, Italy. A member of the Violin Society of America, Mr. Keane has lectured widely and lent his expertise to numerous institutions, including the Violin Society of America and The American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers. Since 1995 he has been the primary guest appraiser of musical instruments on the highly popular television program The Antiques Roadshow.