Information on German maker Gustav Wunderlich?
K G BEERS
I just acquired an old German violin that I really enjoy playing (I actually
play Old-Time and Irish fiddle). The violin is very well made, and does not
appear to be a "workshop" or factory fiddle.
The dealer that sold me the violin described it as "old German, unknown maker,
circa 1890".
The lable visible through the left f-hole says:
copy of
Antonius Stradivarius
Made in Germany
I didn't have much confidence in the dealer's assessment of the age of the
fiddle, as I believe that the "Made in Germany" lable indicates after World War
One (??).
Anyway, after I bought the fiddle, I was changing the tailpiece, and I found
that there is a second full sized lable placed horizontally across the upper
(neck) block, visible only when viewed through the end button hole. This lable
says:
Gustav Wunderlich
Geigenbaumeister
Landwust b.Markneukirchen
Anno 19
(There is no visible number/date written after the 19.)
I am interested in whether my fiddle might actually have been made by Gustav
Wunderlich, and if so, approximately when?
I have found very brief entries in two older volumes of known violin makers
indicating that Gustav Wundwrlich worked in Markneukirchen, Dresden, Leipzig
and Berlin, and made violins from 1890 until his death in 1937.
I can find no other information about him, and no mention of his building
"trade" violins commercially. (Why else would an established maker hide his own
lable on the top block?)
I would really appreciate any information anyone can give me on Gustav
Wunderlich, and any guesses as to the actual age of my fiddle.
Thanks very much!
Ken
