Bartolomeo Cristofori, Florence, 1716


Cello: 46216

Back: Two-piece cut on the quarter

Top: of uneven-grained pine, with sap streaks and hazel straking

Length of back: 78.1 cm

Upper bouts: 45.7 cm

Middle bouts: 24.4 cm

Lower bouts: 36.5 cm

There are 3 additional images in the archive which are not available publicly. Please contact us for more information.


Notes:

"This cello has sparked off quite a lot of discussion. Although very refined and sophisticated for its date of 1716, it is no copy of Stradivari or Amati. It is certainly built on Cremonese principles, but to a personal and stylish conception. People have argued that it is too well made to be virtually a 'one-off'. Why are there not more examples of this maker? Surely no-one can make an instrument like this without first evolving his craft over many years. It has been suggested that Cristofori had merely signed his name to the work of some other, unknown, master. But this argument works both ways, and no-one can suggest who this may have been and where other examples of his work can be found. In fact, apart from the Cherubini bass, there are just two other cellos which can be attributed definitely to Cristofori, and no violins or violas at all."

Two-Part Invention, John Dilworth, The Strad, January, 1985, London

Provenance

- Sold by Giuseppe Fiorini
until 1904 W. E. Hill & Sons
from 1904 Charles B. Lutyens
until 1909 W. E. Hill & Sons
from 1909 C. R. French
until 1956 W. E. Hill & Sons
from 1956 Current owner

Certificates & Documents

  • Certificate: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (1956)

Cozio holds copies of many certificates and other documents, some of which are available to view on request. Please contact us if you wish to view a particular document. (Note that we do not always have permission to share documents.)

References

  • The Strad, January, 1985, John Dilworth, London (illustrated)
  • W. E. Hill & Sons Photographic Archive (illustrated)

Welcome


You already have a Tarisio account. Please login to continue.

Forgot Password

Homepage

Welcome


Please register or ​to continue.

Homepage

Welcome


Please register or ​to continue.

We have sent you an email.
Please follow the link to confirm your registration.

Homepage

Create Your Password


Click the button below and we'll email you a link to generate your Tarisio password.

Homepage