Antonio Stradivari, master luthier of Cremona: quick facts

Antonio Stradivari was an Italian luthier who worked in Cremona and is widely regarded as the greatest maker of stringed instruments in history. Over a long career he produced violins, violas, and cellos, with the instruments of his so-called golden period, roughly 1700 to 1720, considered his finest. Several hundred of his instruments survive, and they are sought after by the world's leading players and collectors. The Latinised form of his name, Stradivarius, has become shorthand for excellence. His exact methods and the reasons for his instruments' tone remain a subject of study and debate.

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Sources: Library of Congress — Stradivari instruments / Whittall Collection; W. Henry Hill, Arthur F. Hill & Alfred E. Hill — 'Antonio Stradivari: His Life and Work (1644–1737)'; The Metropolitan Museum of Art — musical instruments collection. Educational information only — not financial, investment, or appraisal advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.