AMATI  , the name of a

family of Italian violin-makers, who flourished at Cremona from about 1550 to 1692 . According to Fetis, Andrea and Nicolo Amati, two brothers, were the first Italians who made violins . They were succeeded by Antonio and Geronimo, sons of Nicolo . Another Nicolo, son of Geronimo, was born on the 3rd of September 1596 and died on the 12th of August 1684 . He was the most eminent of the family . He improved the model adopted by the rest of the Amatis and produced instruments capable of yielding greater power of tone . His pattern was usually small, but he also made the so-called "Grand Amatis." Of his pupils the most famous were Andrea Enamieri and Antonio Stradivari .