Amati

Amati, an Italian family celebrated in the 16th and 17th centuries for hereditary skill in the making of violins. They were established at Cremona, and thus their instruments share with others the name of Cremonas. There is some little difficulty in distinguishing between the members of the family. Andrea and his younger brother Nicolo are usually regarded as the first makers, and it is said that specimens of their work date back to 1551. Nicolo had two sons, Antonio and Hieronimo, whose products date from 1589 to 1627, and are the Cremonas that come into the market nowadays. The best instruments date from 1599 to 1620.