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