Louis Lowendall "Conservatory violin", Dresden, approx. 1880

This sophisticated violin was crafted during Louis Löwenthal's time in Dresden; this "Conservatory violin" model is a very typical and successful replica of a model by Stradivari. The exceptionally successful atelier owner and instrument merchant, Löwenthal is said to have made his first attempts at crafting violins during his boyhood in Königsberg (now Kaliningrad); his fanciful violin was pieced together out of random bits of wood, strings made of cotton thread and a bow with hair that had just been cut from horses passing by on the street. This early and intense enthusiasm for stringed instruments is seen as one reason for the immediate success that Löwenthal enjoyed in his professional life. He matured into a good musician, luthier and bow maker who opened his own music shop in 1855. He was quickly able to hire many talented assistants and renowned masters such as Heinrich Knopf, and his business gained international recognition under the name "Lowendall Star Works". Louis Löwenthal was at home all over the world and maintained professional relations and friendships with legends of violin making like George Gemunder in the US, to whom he sold a significant amount of aged European tone woods. Replicating the virtuoso artisanry of the Stradivari model is a clear indication of how much Löwenthal enjoyed experimentation in his work; amongst other things, Löwenthal's pieces include a patented "resonator bass bar" that featured several hollow sound posts. The eye-catching slim model of this particular violin features not only delicate inlaid purfling which extends deep into the corners; it also has excellent work at the scroll. The finishing touch to the instrument's visual aesthetic is a tastefully antiqued, golden-brown varnish with appealing red overtones, and the violin's style is an excellent complement to its wonderful sound: clear, rich in overtones, radiant, with a voice which unfolds with great responsiveness. With significant varnish flaws and a small repair this good violin that has an outstanding sound at the price can be offered today at a highly reduced price and was, like all instruments from us, meticulously set up in our atelier and made ready to play. We recommend it as a particularly interesting instrument.

 

Order a certificate of appraisal with this violin, the certificate option is available in the shopping cart.