A cello by Giovanni Battista Genova

The back is made of rather plain wood, and the most prominent feature is the hook-hole in the upper centre, now neatly plugged with a dowel. The purpose of the hook-hole was to secure a supporting strap worn by the player, but this doesn’t seem to have been much used in this case, and is neatly rounded and showing only minor damage to the surrounding surface.

The head is also of plain maple, and despite the Staineresque extended last turn to the eye, is very well modelled in Stradivarian style, with a neatly fluted chin and pegbox.

The arching is full and rounded on both plates, and not excessively channelled at the edges. The soundholes, although not fluted, are very elegant in a very Amati-like manner. The instrument wears a very fine golden yellow varnish, again strongly reminiscent of Celoniato, and seeming to affirm a strong connection between the two makers, and it is very tempting to assign to them the roles of master and pupil.