Viotti owned a violin fabricated by Antonio Stradivari in 1709 that would eventually become known as the "Viotti Stradivarius". He is also thought to have commissioned the construction of at least one replica of this violin. The "Viotti ex-Bruce", renamed in honour of its previous owner, was purchased by the Royal Academy of Music in September 2005. Funding was provided by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax, and by the National Art Collections Fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and many private donors. The instrument was to be displayed in the York Gate Collections, the Academy's free museum and research centre. The "Viotti ex-Bruce" is to be heard as well as seen: the instrument is to be played sparingly, under very controlled circumstances, at research events and occasional performances elsewhere.