Mittenwald master violin by Erich Sandner, 1973

German Mittenwald violin by Erich Sandner - this violin is a fascinating witness to a chapter of southern-German violin making history that was marked by intense conflict. It was crafted only a few years after the death of Johann Reiter – one of the finest Mittenwald masters of his day, a man who understood the artisanry of his craft in a way that only few others did and whose workshop eventually Erich Sandner took over. This instrument still bears Johann Reiter’s original label. Erich Sandner came to Bavaria in 1948 along with other displaced German luthiers from the town of Schönbach (Luby) in what is now Czechia. A violin label that features both a highly respected name from the Mittenwald tradition and that of a refugee is a phenomenon that not to be taken for granted in the context of post-war life in that town: after all, local masters in 1949 were very outspoken in driving out emigres from Sudetenland and forcing them to relocate to Bubenreuth, where they established an internationally successful centre for instrument making within a very short time. Erich Sandner was amongst the few who remained in Mittenwald, and this violin is a perfectly executed example of his mature craftsmanship which confidently assumed its place in the rich tradition of violin making tradition in the Karwendel region. Erich Sandner’s finely honed sense for premium tone woods is evident in a single glance at in the uncommonly regular moderate to fine grain of the spruce from a local source and the resplendent tightly-flamed maple. The back and delicate purfling with its relatively wide centre inlay are both the work of an excellently trained and experienced hand that knew how to combine the aesthetically and musically relevant aspects of his craft. With its shade of pleasant light brown, the transparent varnish is a mixture of Sandner’s own creation and has demonstrated, both here and on other instruments, a remarkable ability to withstand the natural ageing of the surface and the mechanical stresses that an outstanding instrument is exposed to in its long lifespan of over 50 years. We now offer this Sandner violin after having been carefully set up and made ready to play at our workshop. It is in excellent undamaged condition, as can be seen in features such as by its top-quality musical state and its powerful and mature sound. Its clear voice, its rich range of timbres and its carrying resonance make this violin is a good choice for powerful players.