How does an up-and-coming musician making $50,000 a year pay for a $1.7 million, 300-year-old Guarneri cello? To Jamie Walton, a 33-year-old Englishman, the answer seemed simple: He would hit up his most ardent fans and friends for loans and donations. But that straight­forward plan quickly proved more complicated. While some of Walton’s patrons made good on their promises, others reneged—sometimes on the same day that payments were due the seller. Twice, Walton thought he would have to forfeit the cello. So last spring he turned to Nigel Brown, an investment adviser based in Cambridge, to convert the original loans into shares that can be resold. Walton, who per­forms regularly at London’s prestigious Wigmore Hall, hopes to buy out his investors someday. If he can’t, or decides not to, the shareholders will have the right to sell the cello on the open market.

THE STAKEHOLDERS

1. Tina Granville
65, retiree
Connection to Walton: Both studied with renowned cellist Margaret Moncrieff.
Investment: $964,107

2. Anonymous Investor
Connection: The investor read a story about Walton in a British magazine, googled him, then called him up. He was originally planning to invest 5 percent of the Guarneri’s value, but he liked Walton so much after their meeting—during which the cellist performed at the man’s home—that he doubled his stake.
Investment: $174,930

3. Peter Woodford
76, retired biochemist
Connection: They met at a concert.
Investment: $103,360