Valentino Siani
Valentino Siani (c.1595–1672) was an Italian violinmaker who worked in Brescia and Florence. He was a pupil of Giovanni Paolo Maggini in Brescia (c.1610–1620) before he moved to Florence in c.1620 where he worked c.1620–1670. Sianis' instruments have a rather full arching, narrow purfling in very nicely channelled edges, and stiff f-holes. His scrolls show the influence of Maggini. His work is very rarely met in the trade. He is particularly well known for his violas. A viola by Valentino Siani is pictured in "Italian Violinmakers" by Walter Hamma.