'Piatti' Stradivarius cello: quick facts
The 'Piatti' is a Stradivari cello made in 1720, during the golden period. It is named after Alfredo Piatti, the celebrated 19th-century Italian cellist who owned it. The instrument has been played by a succession of distinguished cellists and remains in active concert use today. As a golden-period cello it is highly prized, since Stradivari made far fewer cellos than violins and the survivors are among the most important instruments of their kind. The 'Piatti' is valued for its tone and its strong, documented line of ownership through major performers, which is exactly the kind of provenance that defines a great Stradivari.
Sources: Tarisio — Cozio Archive of stringed instruments; Library of Congress — Stradivari instruments / Whittall Collection; The Metropolitan Museum of Art — musical instruments collection; Smithsonian — National Music Museum / NMAH string instruments. Educational information only — not financial, investment, or appraisal advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.