Antonio Stradivari was an Italian luthier and a craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas and harps. The Latinized form of his surname, Stradivarius, as well as the colloquial Strad are terms often used to refer to his instruments. It is estimated that Stradivari produced 1,116 instruments, of which 960 were violins. Around 650 instruments survive, including 450 to 512 violins. His instruments are considered some of the finest ever made, and are extremely valuable collector's items.
Antonio Stradivari
Panorama of Cremona, with the Torrazzo di Cremona prominent
Antonio Stradivari, by Edgar Bundy, 1893: a romanticized image of a craftsman-hero
A luthier is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments that have a neck and a sound box.
Modern luthier's workshop, Cremona (2007)
A luthier tunes the bridge of a violin.
Oud luthier on Mohamed Ali Street in Cairo, Egypt
A luthier building classical guitars in Madrid, Spain