A photo from inside an exceptional violin made in 1730 by Pietro Guarneri. It is currently played by Helene Pohl, the lead violinist of the New Zealand String Quartet.

Violins crafted by Pietro Guarneri are extremely rare and are celebrated for their masterful blend of Venetian and Cremonese craftsmanship.Pietro Guarneri, the elder son of Giuseppe 'filius Andreae', was initially poised to take over his father's violin-making shop in Cremona. However, after a decade of learning the craft there, he moved to Venice in 1717. At that time, the Stradivari family largely dominated the violin-making industry in Cremona, presenting challenges for the Guarneri family's business. In Venice, which was renowned as "The Republic of Music," Pietro found more stable opportunities. This city was a hive of musical creativityduring that era, and it's likely that this violin premiered early performances of works by composers like Vivaldi and Albinoni.