It was more tongue in cheek. Original Guarneri corners, and especially the way the purfling meets at the tip, can be quite brutal in the later instruments. Before that, he was relatively neat, in comparison.
So for my version, it is a more idealised concept.
It is not the same instrument as the once posted on 29th September, which is why they looks different colours.
Your question about antiquing is a good one, because it is true that in many cases, the antiquing process itself does take away, or subdue the colours, at least with the way I approach it.
For this reason, the initial colour before antiquing may seem too bold and bright, but after it has undergone the various processes, starts to look correct.
With a weaker colour, it can start to look bland, or have no intensity left by the end.