Hannibal Fagnola is a representative maker from Turin, Italy. After winning a silver medal at the 1906 Milan Expo and a gold medal at the Genoa Expo, he rapidly became a sought-after luthier, winning awards worldwide and attracting attention from renowned dealers globally. While Fagnola primarily modeled his instruments after three great makers, namely Pressenda, Rocca, and Guadagnini, this violin made in 1930 is a particularly rare model based on Guadagnini, one of the leading makers of the late 18th century. Upon inspecting the body, one can find labels of both G.B. Guadagnini and Fagnola himself. The woodwork boasts extreme precision, coated with a transparent varnish. The sound is rich and warm, ideal for soloists, and has the powerful volume suitable for performances in large halls.

It's estimated that Fagnola crafted about 400 stringed instruments in his lifetime. Of these, only around 20 are believed to be cellos. There's virtually no record of a Fagnola cello appearing at auctions, making them extremely rare. The opportunity to encounter a Fagnola cello, especially one from his 'golden era' of 1926, is almost non-existent. As previously mentioned, Fagnola's reputation skyrocketed after winning awards at the 1906 expos in Milan and Genoa. His cellos gained global attention after a quartet set (two violins, a viola, and a cello) won a gold medal at an expo in Turin in 1911. This led to increased recognition of Fagnola's cellos and violas, especially in countries like the UK and the US. This 1926 cello, from Fagnola's 'golden era', boasts not only volume but also a dense and profound tonality. The instrument's inherent musical expressiveness is vast, drawing out the desired tones for soloists.