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Our History

Tim Ingles and Paul Hayday joined Sotheby’s in the 1990s and ran Sotheby’s Musical Instrument department for 15 years. In 1999 they sold the collection of Yehudi Menuhin, which achieved 16 auction records in 100 lots, and in 2008 the collection of Albert Cooper, which included record-breaking instruments by Carlo Tononi, Carlo Bergonzi and P.G. Rogeri. In 2004 Tim and Paul launched their private sale business, which has grown steadily ever since and now rivals the world’s leading dealers.

In 2012, Tim and Paul established Ingles & Hayday, a specialist fine and rare musical instrument auction house and dealership, where they offer fine and rare stringed instruments for sale by auction and private sale. In the past five years they have sold 15 instruments by Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù, including the Il Museo; ex-Grumiaux Guarneri of 1739 and the Molitor Stradivari of 1697.

Over 25 years in the violin business, Tim and Paul have established a reputation for honest ethical violin dealing, founded on dependable expertise, and for reliability and openness in their client relationships. They pride themselves on establishing long term relationships with their clients, based on trust and mutual respect.

Tim and Paul’s expertise in the field, combined with their ongoing role as consultants to Sotheby’s, generates international interest in their sales.

Meet the Team

Our Business Ethics

At Ingles & Hayday we pride ourselves on our openness and honesty, and our commission structures are clearly defined. We do not accept, or pay, secret commissions of any kind under any circumstances. All introductory commissions are declared to the buyer or seller. In a world where impartiality is a rare commodity, we are proud to offer impartial advice and valuations to buyers and sellers.

Our Relationship with Sotheby’s

Tim Ingles & Paul Hayday maintain a unique working relationship with Sotheby’s, acting as their exclusive consultants for musical instruments. In a tradition that we are proud to continue, Sotheby’s held its inaugural musical instrument auction at its New Bond Street Galleries in 1969.

Sotheby’s has an eminent place in the history of musical instrument sales. They are particularly known for the world record-breaking sale of the Lady Blunt Stradivari in 1971, the sale of the Sam Bloomfield Collection in 1988, and the sale of the collection of Yehudi Menuhin in 1999. Tim and Paul joined Sotheby’s in 1994 and 1997 and ran the department until 2012, when Ingles & Hayday was founded.

Ingles & Hayday have worked on numerous joint projects with Sotheby’s, including the sale of the Ex-Croall Stradivari in 2017, the sale of the Baron Heath Guarneri in 2017 and the sale of Mstislav Rostropovich’s Guadagnini and Serafin cellos in 2018.

Ingles and Hayday hold two musical instrument auctions a year and Sotheby’s refers all musical instrument enquiries to Ingles & Hayday. Ingles & Hayday and Sotheby’s work closely together to ensure that vendors and buyers of fine musical instruments are offered the highest-quality service through their combined experience as leaders in the international market.

View Our Timeline

MEET OUR TEAM

TIM INGLES – DIRECTOR

Tim Ingles was born into a musical family in 1967. His mother had a diploma on the piano and his father, Jim, was a keen amateur violinist. Jim collected violins and bows, and was joint-owner of Thomas Smith Violins in Birmingham in the 1970s.

Tim studied modern languages at university and worked in Munich for two years before joining Sotheby’s in 1994. He became Head of Musical Instruments in 1999 and oversaw the sale of the collection of Yehudi Menuhin (1999) and Albert Cooper (2008).

In his 19 years at Sotheby’s, Tim gained a reputation for expertise and integrity. He cemented Sotheby’s position as the leading auctioneer of musical instruments, and after the launch of their private sales division in 2004, established Sotheby’s as one of the world’s leading violin dealers… Read more

Tim Ingles

Tim Ingles was born into a musical family in 1967. His mother had a diploma on the piano and his father, Jim, was a keen amateur violinist. Jim collected violins and bows, and was joint-owner of Thomas Smith Violins in Birmingham in the 1970s.

Tim studied modern languages at university and worked in Munich for two years before joining Sotheby’s in 1994. He became Head of Musical Instruments in 1999 and oversaw the sale of the collection of Yehudi Menuhin (1999) and Albert Cooper (2008).

In his 19 years at Sotheby’s, Tim gained a reputation for expertise and integrity. He cemented Sotheby’s position as the leading auctioneer of musical instruments, and after the launch of their private sales division in 2004, established Sotheby’s as one of the world’s leading violin dealers.

Tim left Sotheby’s in 2012 and, together with his colleague Paul Hayday, set up Ingles & Hayday, a specialist auctioneer and dealer of fine stringed instruments. Ingles & Hayday has quickly established itself as one of the most respected dealerships in the violin world. Tim has handled the sale of over 50 instruments by Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù, including the ‘Vieuxtemps’ and ‘Kreisler’ Guarneris and the ‘Emiliani’ and ‘Molitor’ Stradivaris. He represents some of the world’s leading collectors and musicians.

Tim is married with four children and lives in Haywards Heath in Sussex. He plays piano and cello and works with various musical charities in the UK.

PAUL HAYDAY – DIRECTOR

Paul was brought up surrounded by music. With the encouragement of his father, an accomplished pianist, Paul began to learn the violin at the age of five. He won a scholarship to the specialist music school Chetham’s in Manchester and later continued his musical education with a Musicology degree at Durham University.

Violins have always held a fascination for Paul, and in 1997 he was fortunate to be offered a position in Sotheby’s Musical Instrument Department, where he was able to pursue this interest in more depth. Over nearly 30 years in the business, Paul has developed an in-depth knowledge of the market and violin expertise, and has gained a reputation for honesty, empathy and reliable, impartial advice. He uses his experience as a musician to best guide artists in their search for the perfect instrument…Read more

Paul Hayday

Paul was brought up surrounded by music. With the encouragement of his father, an accomplished pianist, Paul began to learn the violin at the age of five. He won a scholarship to the specialist music school Chetham’s in Manchester and later continued his musical education with a Musicology degree at Durham University.

Violins have always held a fascination for Paul, and in 1997 he was fortunate to be offered a position in Sotheby’s Musical Instrument Department, where he was able to pursue this interest in more depth. Over nearly 30 years in the business, Paul has developed an in-depth knowledge of the market and violin expertise, and has gained a reputation for honesty, empathy and reliable, impartial advice. He uses his experience as a musician to best guide artists in their search for the perfect instrument.

In his career so far, Paul has been involved in the sale of over 50 instruments by Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù. Paul is a board member of a creative musical charity dedicated to improving the quality of life of underprivileged children in London. In the summer months he is an enthusiastic sailor. He lives in Berkhamsted with his wife and three daughters.

SAMANTHA ROWE

Auction Manager

Samantha joined Ingles & Hayday Ltd. in the summer of 2015 as Auction Manager; she looks after clients throughout the auction process and manages the auction logistics and the office alongside marketing and events for Ingles & Hayday. Read more

Samantha Rowe

Samantha joined Ingles & Hayday Ltd. in the summer of 2015 as Auction Manager; she looks after clients throughout the auction process and manages the auction logistics and the office alongside marketing and events for Ingles & Hayday.

After studying at the University of Durham as an undergraduate, and more recently at postgraduate level, Samantha developed her career in the violin business working first with Tim & Paul in the Sotheby’s Musical Instruments Department from 2010-2011 and then moving on to work with an independent dealer and an established Trust.

In 2015 she returned to Ingles & Hayday after completing an MA specialising in History of Art.

RAINER MICHAEL COCRON

Head of Sales, Specialist

Born in Salzburg, Austria, Rainer grew up in one of the world‘s musical capitals and studied the violin at the University Mozarteum with Igor Ozim, Wonji Kim and Klara Flieder-Pantillon, as well as Arts Production & Cultural Management. Read more

Rainer Michael Cocron

Born in Salzburg, Austria, Rainer grew up in one of the world‘s musical capitals and studied the violin at the University Mozarteum with Igor Ozim, Wonji Kim and Klara Flieder-Pantillon, as well as Arts Production & Cultural Management.

His interest in fine string instruments spans most of his life – he completed his first internship with a violin maker at the age of 13, followed by many more.

During the last decade Rainer has been working as a specialist, travelling the world to value and authenticate string instruments. He joined Ingles & Hayday in 2016.

Since then he has been involved in selling some of the world‘s finest instruments, including by makers such as Amati, Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù. Rainer is our lead for any questions regarding private sales and overseeing instrument restoration at Ingles & Hayday. His background as a professional violinist gives him an expert ear for optimising the set-up of string instruments.

Throughout the year, Rainer performs as part of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. To date, he has shared the stage with soloists such as Anne-Sophie Mutter, Lisa Batiashvili, Martha Argerich, Evgeny Kissin, Yefim Bronfman and many others in previous concert seasons.

Rainer currently lives in central London but enjoys hiking in both the English countryside and the Austrian Alps whenever he has the opportunity.

CATHERINE BOWDER

Shipping Co-ordinator & Accounts Manager

Chilean by birth, Catherine Bowder was schooled in England and Belgium. After graduating in music at Durham University she joined Sotheby’s in 1996 and worked with Tim Ingles and Paul Hayday until 2005 She joined Ingles & Hayday in 2013.  Read more

Catherine Bowder

Chilean by birth, Catherine Bowder was schooled in England and Belgium.

After graduating in music at Durham University she joined Sotheby’s in 1996 and worked with Tim Ingles and Paul Hayday until 2005. She joined Ingles & Hayday in 2013 and manages their accounts and shipping logistics. She lives in Wiltshire with her husband and four children.

John Murphy

Client Liaison, USA

John has been associated with Ingles & Hayday for over 10 years and enjoys working with our musical clients as a contrast with his other activities. Alongside his position as client liaison, John is a partner at John Murphy & Associates legal practice. Read more

John Murphy

John has been associated with Ingles & Hayday for over 10 years and enjoys working with our musical clients as a contrast with his other activities. Alongside his position as client liaison, John is a partner at John Murphy & Associates legal practice.

Very active in public service and charitable organisations, in 2010, he was honoured alongside Caroline Kennedy by the City of New York. He resides in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, with his wife and fellow Notre Dame graduate and their two sons.

Valentina Pastorelli

Client Liaison, Italy

Born in Indonesia but raised in Italy, Valentina Pastorelli graduated in Architecture from Politecnico di Torino. She joined Sotheby’s in 2008, working for seven years as assistant to the Senior Director in Turin and as a sales clerk in Milan. Read more

Valentina Pastorelli

Born in Indonesia but raised in Italy, Valentina Pastorelli graduated in Architecture from Politecnico di Torino. She joined Sotheby’s in 2008, working for seven years as assistant to the Senior Director in Turin and as a sales clerk in Milan.

Since 2015 she has worked as an independent consultant and business getter both for art and architecture. Valentina started working with Ingles & Hayday in 2015 and is their representative and client liaison in Italy.

Marie-France Ludmann

Client Liaison, France

Born in Paris, Marie-France graduated originally in chemistry but turned quickly to history and has been working as a consultant for Sotheby’s for more than 25 years. Read more

Marie-France Ludmann

Born in Paris, Marie-France graduated originally in chemistry but turned quickly to history and has been working as a consultant for Sotheby’s for more than 25 years.

She started working for Ingles & Hayday in 2014 and is their representative and client liaison in France, Belgium and Switzerland.

“What an incredible experience dealing with Ingles & Hayday to assist me, as Personal Representative of an estate in the United States…I was so impressed with the personal attention and the depth of knowledge and support that Ingles & Hayday provided”

  Darby Jones – Google Review