American violin, New York violin maker Peter Eibert, 1970

This radiantly beautiful American violin by New York violin maker Peter Eibert is a rather young instrument crafted by a violin maker of German descent, Peter Eibert from Garnerville, New York. It is an eye-catching piece patterned after a wide and highly distinctive Stradivari model for which Peter Eibert selected outstanding tone woods. Finely- to moderately-grained spruce was used for the top, and he chose deeply flamed maple for the two-piece back, emphasizing the grain of both woods with a soft milky-transparent oil varnish on a luminous golden base coat. Born in 1926, Peter Eibert learned his craft at the renowned Nuremberg workshop of Heinrich Lang, who later went on to lead the Bubenreuth school of violin making. He emigrated to the US in 1952, frequenting the circles of European violin makers whose key figure was Robert Juzek, the Czech master who very successfully established the Metropolitan Music Co. Robert Juzek’s company imported Bubenreuth stringed instruments to the US; these pieces were made by German luthiers who had been displaced from Schönbach in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) after WWII. Working for Juzek not only provided a living for Peter Eibert and his family in the New World; setting up and repairing these popular instruments also brought him into contact with many active musicians, which later benefitted his own atelier. Much like another great immigrant from Deutschland – the influential master violin maker Georg Gemunder – Eibert settled down near the New York metropolitan area, but not in the exclusive neighbourhood of Astoria like Gemunder. Instead, he settled in a remote rural community on the Hudson north of New York City, where he ended up living and working until his death in 2013. The fine and refined carving of the scroll and peg box on this 1970 violin serve as an excellent point of reference for Peter Eibert’s talent, good training and experience. Its large and powerful voice is equally compelling. A minor repair was made to the saddle, and this NY violin has been kept in very good condition. After having set it up carefully at our specialist atelier, it is now ready to play, and we recommend its well-defined, round and clear sound.

 

 

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