Bow & Bridge Violin and bow makers, as the old books printed them

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Scan 94

A dictionary of violin makers

30 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 84. See the scan on archive.org.

1inscription in a little pocket violin in the Paris Conservatoire Collection.
3Socquet, Louis. A maker in Paris about 1750-80; he worked at the sign of 'Au Génie de l'harmonie.' His instruments are not well made. A violin and a five-stringed viol dated 1755 are known, and an alto of 1769. Two other labels are dated 1765 and 1771 respectively. He was living in the place du Louvre, 1775-79.
5Sohn, Walter. Worked in Vienna. In a guitar is the label: 'Walter Sohn in Wien.'
7Soliani, Angelo. A maker in Modena, 1752-1810.
9Somer, Nicolas. A maker in Paris about 1725-50.
11Sorsano. See "Sursano."
13Speiler. A German maker in the 18th century.
15Spicer, John. It has been inferred that he was a maker of lutes and viols in London, from a token which is inscribed "John Spicer. In Crown Court, in [address hidden], 1667—His Half-Peny," with the device of a lute.
17Spilman, Dorigo. There is a viol of his in the Modena Museum in Vienna; it looks like the work of a Venetian, and probably dates back to the 16th century. The sound-holes are similar to those of V. Linarolo, the scroll looks as if it had been added at a later date. "Dorigo Spilman" is written inside, but no date.
19Sprenger, Anton. b. 1834, Mittenwald. Was there a pupil of Anton Hornsteiner, later worked under Tiefenbrunner of Munich, and Kindl and also Fischer in Vienna. In 1870 he settled at Stuttgart at 23, Hospitaistrasse. He made violins and violoncellos on the Stradivari and Guarneri patterns, using oil varnish of good quality. Died 1900.
21Stadelmann (Statelmann). Daniel Achatius, b. 1680; d Oct. 27, 1744. A maker in Vienna, who showed great ability in imitating the Stainer pattern; he used thin varnish of a deep amber colour; the work is well finished.
23Stadelmann (Statelmann), Johann Joseph, son of Daniel A. Stadelmann. He was a very clever maker, who copied the Stainer model to great perfection; he worked till 1764, possibly later.
25Stadl, Michael Ignatius. Was working in Vienna in 1770. He did fairly good work; and used a yellow-brown varnish; he sometimes substituted a lion's head for the scroll.
27Stainer, Andreas. Was working in Absam about 1660. He made few violins, if any; he is supposed to have made barytons.
29Stainer, Jacob, son of Martin Stainer and Sabina Grafinger; b. July 14, 1621, at Absam, near Hall, in the Tyrol; d. there, 1683. Little is known of the first part of his life, but there seems to be absolutely no evidence in support of the statement that he went to Cremona to become a pupil of Nicola Amati, married the daughter of the latter, and afterwards passed some time in Venice. A violin with the inscription: "Jacobus Stiner, cremonia fecite 1642," which was in the Monastery of Stams, is generally thought not to be genuine Stainer work. He would no doubt have studied the Italian instruments used by the Italian musicians, who assembled at Innsbruck at the Court of the Archduke Ferdinand Carl, Count of the Tyrol, and this would account for his earlier work showing traces of Italian influence; the thicknesses of the wood and the disposition of the blocks and linings being similar to Cremonese work. The old German viol-makers, as is known, used no linings at all, and did their dimensions and thicknesses by guess-work. Stainer's instruments soon showed those distinctive characteristics known as "Tyrolese"; he was practically the founder of the Tyrolese or German school of violin making; the large number and great excellence of his instruments, all made on the same high model, and the reputation he gained in his lifetime, causing his work to be copied in Germany, England, and even in Italy. And it was a long time before makers realised that this high model was in any way defective. An old tradition says that instruments dated as early as 1639 are known; if so, they are extremely rare. In 1641 he was already selling his violins at the large market-fairs of Hall. On Nov. 26, 1645, he married Margarethe Holzhammer (b. March 10, 1624; d. 1693), in Absam, the witnesses being Michael Pamperger and Hans Grafinger, the latter a relation of his. He had nine children, eight daughters, and a son who died in infancy. In 1648 he travelled in Austria, and remained for some time working in Kirchdorf, living in the house of Saloman Hübmer, a Jew. He unfortunately left in debt for a small amount; but though, in 1667, when called upon,

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