Poster Rogeri Pietro cello 1717

This cello, made in 1717, was owned by Nicolò Paganini who pawned it to pay off a gambling debt. The superb quality of maple used for the cello is obvious and most features of the construction follow Amati principles. In the Hills’ book Antonio Stradivari: His Life and Work it is called an ‘admirable form… of excellent dimensions’. Includes measurements.

‘Rogeri’s instruments tend to have a rather square profile, but on this cello the shaping is particularly fine, with a substantial edge flute in the upper and lower bouts, but a strong rise from the purfling through the centre bouts. This gives the cello a very strong “heart”. The extra 15mm across the middle bouts provides a strong sounding board beneath the bridge, a characteristic of the great cellos of Montagnana and Guadagnini.’

John Dilworth in the July 2009 issue.