Makers Archive, News 13 September 2026

Old Friends: The Archinto Monograph Goes Online

Michael Petrov playing the 'Archinto' Stradivari cello at the Amati Exhibition, 2013

James BuchananDirector and Specialist

In 2013 Amati held the Amati Exhibition, which was genuinely one of the highlights of my working life. While it was happening, in an upstairs room, Jan Röhrmann was helping us by photographing the Archinto Stradivari cello for our monograph series.

Here is the monograph, now put online so that anyone can experience, if not the joy of holding or playing the cello, at least some vicarious pleasure while reading about it.

We only produced four of these monographs. Life over-took us slightly, but re-reading them I had forgotten what treasures they actually were. They come up from time to time in our auctions, like old friends.

John Dilworth and David Brewer during the 2013 photo shoot for the Archinto Stradivari cello monograph

John Dilworth and David Brewer during the Archinto photo shoot, 2013. Happy days.

James Buchanan

Director and Specialist

James is an expert in examining and valuing stringed musical instruments. He has worked for Bonhams, Christies, and was a founding member of Brompton’s.