Giovanni Tononi
Bologna, c.1680

Giovanni Tononi was the leading violin maker in Bologna during the time of Nicolo Amati in Cremona. Tononi’s violins were built on Amati’s patterns and also closely followed Cremonese construction methods. Likewise, his varnish equaled that of his Cremonese counterparts.

This exceptional violin was thought to be an Amati until recent years and is of petite full-size dimensions. The varnish is lustrous, and the sound is complex and rich.