Arnold Voigt (London) Violin - 1890

German-English violin is an attractive instrument made by Arnold Voigt during his London residency 1885-1890. Bearing a label 'Arnold Voigt Violin Maker London' it was made around 1890 and is patterned after an elegant Stradivarius model. The attractive and elegant carving of the scroll and the luminous golden color of the transparent varnish reflect the work of a maker who adhered to the standards of traditional artisal craftsmanship.

The moderately grained spruce of the top and the unusually lovely flames of the one-piece maple back are premium-quality tone woods which show that the maker who selected them had a rich wealth of experience and knew how to express his exquisitely honed sense of style. This excellent violin has been kept in perfect condition and is free of cracks; we warmly recommend it because of its sound, which is warm, mature but clear, large and resonant. After having been carefully set up by the luthiers at our atelier, it is now ready to play.

Arnold Voigt (1864 - 1952) is a stringed instrument maker and luthier of the 19th to 20th century. He was born in Markneukirchen, and worked there from 1890 till his death. During that time, he made copies of Stradivari and other types of Cremonese violins.

He was a student of Heberlein. He was the first of the Voigt family to settle in England (from 1885 and 1890) and some of his stringed instruments, especially his violins, were made there. The tonal quality of these instruments can be rather hard, but with almost no limit to volume.

The family of Voigt is largely associated with the London-based firm of that name, but it is true that the Voigt family never really gave up its German roots. This was truly a large family - the French authority René Vannes lists no less than 43 violin makers of that name. Arnold Voigt (1864 - 1952), who was a student of Heberlein, in fact spent merely 5 years in London - from 1885 to 1890. For the rest, he lived and worked in his birth city - Markneukirchen, where he also died. He was prolific in his output as violinmaker, but Henly also calls him 'an expert bow maker. Faithful representations of celebrated models worked with an artistic eye.