Eugene John Albert: "The American Concert violin", Philadelphia, c.1890

With this instrument dating back to around 1890, Eugene John Albert displayed his excellent capabilities as a luthier and continued the successful history of his family of emigres from Germany.

This rare violin by Eugene John Albert, which was made in Philadelphia around 1890, tells a story of American immigration history; it represents both the German roots of the Albert family of luthiers as well as the great success of their youngest son Eugene in the final decade of the 19th century. E. J. Albert was born in Philadelphia in 1852; his family had immigrated from Freiburg im Breisgau four years earlier. He learned the art of violin making from his father John Albert, and even though initially he was overshadowed by his brother Charles Francis Albert – who was somewhat more famous as a luthier – Eugene gradually became a skilled and innovative master as well. By 1885 he had fully established himself thanks to successful exhibitions in New Orleans and Chicago under the personal label “John Albert American Concert Violin,” which can also be seen on the original label here. The expressive appearance of this comes in no small part from the moderate to wide grain of the spruce Albert chose for the top and the magnificent flamed maple of the two-piece back – both top-quality tone woods whose grain is beautifully cast in its finest light under the highly transparent golden-brown varnish with delicate hints of gleaming orange. The high table and accentuated edges round out the individuality of Eugene Albert’s personal model, which was undeniably shaped by the influences of the German violin making tradition. His detail-oriented hand and well-honed sense of style manifest themselves in all of the nuances of this wonderfully preserved violin which was set up and made ready to play at our workshop. Its large, mature sound offers a pleasant warmth and sweetness, making it an attractive musical selection for interpreting many different kinds of literature.