Old cello by Franz Ostler, Mittenwald 1978

This Mittenwald cello was crafted by Franz Ostler in 1978 and casts premium tone woods from the Karwendel mountains in their finest light, visually and acoustically  – a rather young instrument in perfect condition that communicates the vitality of centuries-old traditions in southern German violin making.

Ever since the days of the great Matthias Klotz, quality stringed instruments in the violin making town of Mittenwald have been crafted with a constancy that is due in no small part to the excellent materials freely available to luthiers in this region around the upper Isar valley. Franz Ostler, presumably the son of renowed violin maker Anton Ostler, selected a magnificent evenly grained spruce for the cello top and a tightly flamed maple for the two-piece back and the ribs, demonstrating that like the generations of masters before him, he appreciated the privilege of having access to the veritable treasure trove that nature offered him. Furthermore, he applied his aesthetic sensibilities and extensive knowledge to make the most of these tone woods’ vibrational characteristics. Coated by a beautifully luminous, orange-brown varnish, these woods give this Mittenwald cello its inimitable individuality to which Franz Ostler added the “signature” of his personal style in the form of a finely carved scroll, and his dated original label inside the body confirms this in writing. Our violin makers have thoroughly set up the instrument and saw for themselves the flawless condition the Franz Ostler cello is in; we offer it ready to play and covered by our trade-in guarantee. We warmly recommend it because of its mature, warm sound with a powerful tenor character that will open up the door to an exceptional range of potential musical interpretations.