Violin by Louis Lowendall, Dresden, 1893
About Louis Lowendall
The name Lowendall is synonymous with good-quality German workshop instruments, however the maker himself was actually born Louis Löwenthal! Ever a man with an eye for commercial opportunity, he changed the spelling to make the brand more accessible to the U.S. market.
Löwenthal was a talented cellist who opened a workshop in Berlin in 1855 and an American branch in 1867. He quickly gained a reputation as a dealer and expert in antique instruments as well as selling tonewood and new instruments. The Dresden workshop opened in 1873, employing skilled luthiers most likely trained in nearby Markneukirchen. The Lowendall workshops produced thousands of instruments over a period of more than 50 years, winning awards at the London and Bologna exhibitions.
About this violin
This violin was made in Dresden in 1893. It is a workshop violin, meaning that the instrument was made by a team of highly-skilled luthiers as opposed to an individual maker. This system allowed workshops to produce large numbers of instruments whilst keeping standards very high.
The violin has a one piece back of attractive figured maple. The ribs and scroll are of similar wood. The front is two pieces of straight-grained spruce which widens towards the flanks. The varnish is a rich golden-red in colour and has been extensively antiqued.
The violin is modelled after the instruments of Stradivari and has a length of back of 357 mm. The phrase 'Lowendall's Grand Concert Violin' is branded to the back of the peg box, identifying the model of the violin within the large Lowendall catalogue.
How does it sound?
This violin is a great all-rounder! It's well-balanced and speaks easily, producing a large sound without effort. It has an open, resonant character and does very well in quick passage work. Altogether an excellent violin, as we expect from this workshop.
Condition
The violin is in excellent condition. It bears its original label, with Lowendall´s signature internally on the back.
Further information
Please get in touch for more details about this Grand Concert violin from the Lowendall workshop for sale and a member of our team will get back to you.