An 18th century Stradivari violin sold for about $2.7 million US at a New York auction Monday, but while the final price nearly doubled the pre-sale estimate, it was dubbed a "bargain."

An anonymous bidder purchased the Antonio Stradivari violin known as the Solomon, Ex-Lambert at a Christie's auction for $2,728,000 US (including commission).

The instrument, which hailed from what is considered maestro Stradivari's "mature" creation period, had been expected to fetch between $1 million and $1.5 million US.

The final price paid was "a bargain," said buying agent Ric Heinl, who represented the winning bidder.

"It's worth considerably more than that."

In 2006, the sale of the Stradivari violin known as The Hammer set a new record for highest price paid for a musical instrument at auction when it fetched $3.5 million US.

Monday's violin was named after two of its most recent owners, Vanguard Records co-founder and amateur violinist Seymour Solomon and British concert violinist Murray Lambert.

Experts and historians estimate that Stradivari and his sons created about 1,000 stringed instruments (including violins, harps, guitars, violas and cellos) in his Cremona, Italy, studio before his death in 1737.

The surviving instruments are considered the gold standard even more than 250 years after they were created. Experts estimate that fewer than 700 original Stradivaris still exist, with violins making up about 512 of the total.

With files from the Associated Press