This illustration of a Carlo Antonio Testore violin was published in The Strad, November 1916. The following text is extracted from the article accompanying the photographs:

Much of the work of the Testore family is roughly or carelessly finished, but that this was due to any lack of executive skill is certainly not the fact; instead it seems clear that the patronage they were able to command was insufficient to enable them to do full justice to their powers, save in a limited number of instances.

Originality they most of them possessed in varying degree; and in the cases of both Carlo Antonio Testore, and his father Carlo Giuseppe, there are instruments in existence that show clearly enough their abilities have been greatly underrated.

The illustrated specimen is in some respects exceptional, but taken as a whole, is a good specimen from which to judge the general characteristics of the maker’s work. It is in very sound condition and has a large, sonorous tone of most excellent quality.

It is of large dimensions, being 14 1/8th inches in length of body; 6 ¾ inches across the upper bouts, and 8 ¼ over the bottom ones. The sides are 1 3/16ths inches deep at the top (full) and 1 ¼ inches at the bottom. The belly, as always with this maker, is made of right good stuff, the back and sides being of native wood, with a small curl.

The scroll is thoroughly typical; very slightly grooved at the back, and withal ugly, as they always are. The varnish is of the light yellow tint most frequently used by the maker.

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