LONDON.- An Amati violin, once owned by the Italian leader Benito Mussolini, is to be sold at Bonhams Musical Instruments Sale in London on 12 May. It is estimated at £100,000-150,000.

The violin was made in around 1700 in the northern Italian town of Cremona by Hieronymus Amati, grandson of Andrea Amati who in the 16th century is credited with creating the violin family – the violin, viola and cello. Hieronymus was the last instrument maker in the famous family and his father, Nicolò, is considered one of the finest violin makers in history, rivaled only by Antonio Stradivari and Andrea Guarneri.

Benito Mussolini was Prime Minister of Italy from 1922 to 1943 but is better known as Il Duce - The Leader - after the imposition of a one party Fascist state in 1925. He was a keen violinist and played duets with his fourth son, Romano. A photograph of Mussolini playing the violin – although not the Amati instrument in the Bonhams sale – is included with this lot.

The instrument - and Mussolini’s ownership of it - was authenticated in 1955 by the American specialist, Emil Herrmann and a certificate to this effect will be offered with the violin. Herrmann’s opinion was confirmed in 1979 by Kenneth Warren & Son, Chicago.

Bonhams Director of Musical Instruments, Philip Scott, said: “Amati violins are keenly sought after for the quality of their craftsmanship and the beauty of their sound. This violin by the last of the family to devote his career to instrument making has, of course, the additional fascination of a direct link to a well known historical figure.”