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Antonio Stradivari, Stradivarius > 
Antonio Stradivari was an Italian luthier, a crafter of stringed instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars and harps. Stradivari is generally considered the most significant artisan in this field. The Latinized form of his surname, Stradivarius, as well as the colloquial, "Strad", is often used to refer to his instruments.
In 1680 Stradivari settled himself in the Piazza San Domenico, Cremona, and his fame as an instrument-maker was quickly established. His originality was evident in his alterations of Amati's models; the arching was changed, the various degrees of thickness in the wood were more exactly determined, the formation of the scroll was altered, and the varnish was more highly coloured. The twelve violin forms currently housed in Cremona's Museo Stradivariano are evidence that, well into the 1700s, Stradivari continued experimenting with the proportions of his violins. It is generally acknowledged that his finest instruments were manufactured between 1698 and 1725, exceeding in quality those subsequently manufactured between 1725 and 1730. After 1730, some of the instruments are signed and were likely made by his sons, Omobono and Francesco.
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