Giovanni Tononi

Giovanni Tononi (ca.1640 — 1713) was an Italian luthier from Bologna, active between 1688 and circa 1705. His extant instruments are valued, generally inspired by the [url=https://discogs.com/artist/7534119]Amati[/url] pattern but with larger outlines. His labels read: "Ioannes de Tononis Fecit Bononiæ Anno 17__" or "Joannes Tononus fecit Bononiae in Platea Pauaglionis, anno Domini, 169x." Giovanni's father, Gaspare Tononi (1607—1693), worked as scatolaro, or "case-maker," which was the profession closely associated with luthiery (with other known examples of Italian case-makers who ended up making violins and lutes). Unlike his younger brothers, Pietro Andrea (1647—post-1713) and Carlo Tommaso (pre-1685—1690), who directly followed their father's steps and also became "scatolari," Giovanni was seemingly always focused on musical instruments; by 1688, he already appeared as gitarraro, a generic term for any maker of bowed or plucked string instruments, in extant archival records. Very little is known about the rest of Tononi's life, despite over 15 surviving violins, several small violins, violas, and cellos. He had two sons, Carlo Annibale (1675—1730) and Felice (ca.1670—post-1735), who assisted Giovanni at the family workshop.