LONDON: A violin made by renowned Italian craftsman Antonio Stradivari during his 18th century `Golden Period` is heading for auction next month with an estimate of up to a record $18 million.

The New England Conservatory (NEC) is offering the `Joachim-Ma Stradivarius`, with proceeds going to student scholarships, fulfilling the wish of musician and NEC graduate Si-Hon Ma, who donated the violin to the music school.

Sotheby`s will carry out the sale on Feb 7 in New York as part of its Masters Week of auctions. ``Strad` is... like a household name for the violin... like the Picasso of the violin world,` Helena Newman, chairman of Sotheby`s Europe, said in London, where the violin went on public display on Friday.

`We are estimating the violin in theregion of 12 to 18 million dollars, which sits comfortably within the record price already achieved for a Strad...

Stradivari`s violins, which can sell for millions of dollars, are known for their exquisite craftsmanship, with the most sought-after from his 1700-1720 `Golden Period`.

The 1721 `Lady Blunt` Stradivarius sold for a record $15.9 million in 2011.

Before Ma, 19th century violinist Joseph Joachim owned the instrument. Joachim was a close collaborator of composer Johannes Brahms and `almost certainly` performed on the `Joachim-Ma Stradivarius` at the 1879 premiere of Brahms `Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77`, Sotheby`s said.

The violin will also go on display in Hong Kong and New York before the auction.-Reuters