Any example of the work of this lesser known maker of the 18th c. Florentine school is rare, but rarer still are cellos made by Bartolomeo Bimbi. A pupil of G. B. Gabrielli, his models show the strong influence of Jacob Stainer on the Florentines, who, during this period, they almost universally copied. This example is the property of an important professional musician in the New York area, who used this instrument to win his position in a major symphony orchestra. A rare and beautiful part of history, this instrument belongs in the hands of a professional who can wield its prowess to great effect.