The Ex Vatican Stradivarius is a

cello The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...

crafted circa 1620 by

Nicola Amati Nicola Amati, Nicolò Amati or Nicolao Amati (, ; 3 September 1596 – 12 April 1684) was an Italian master luthier from Cremona, Italy. Amati is one of the most well-known luthiers from the Casa Amati (House of Amati). He was the teacher of il ...

, master to

Antonio Stradivari Antonio Stradivari (, also , ; – 18 December 1737) was an Italian luthier and a craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas and harps. The Latinisation of names, Latinized form of his surname, ''Stradivarius'', a ...

. The instrument was originally crafted as a

viola da gamba The viola da gamba (), or viol, or informally gamba, is a bowed and fretted string instrument that is played (i.e. "on the leg"). It is distinct from the later violin family, violin, or ; and it is any one of the earlier viol family of bow (m ...

and converted into a cello by Stradivari. The filigree and paintings on the front and back of the cello were added in the 19th century by French luthier Georges Chanot. The front depicts two angels, one on either side of the neck; one is playing a harp and the other is playing a tambourine. The back side of the cello shows a Vatican flag and papal hat, flanked by two dolphins.

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Further reading