Violin Maker: Carlo Tononi

Born in Bologna, Carlo Tononi studied violin making with his father Giovanni and worked in his home town, inheriting the family workshop after Giovanni's death in 1713. He moved to Venice in 1717, the same year that Pietro Guarneri arrived there from Cremona, and the two worked alongside one another in Matteo Sellas' shop. While the ideas of Guarneri are a frequent presence, Tononi's work shows a considerable range of influences and models, including high-arched copies prevalent at the time, and Cremonese-inspired models with stunning workmanship and beautiful varnish.

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