Carl Bernhard

History

Carl Bernhard (1857-1929) was born in 1857 and worked from 1884 to 1929 in Stadthagen, Germany, as noted by John Dilworth in The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers. Originally a musician, his desire to improve the sound of string instruments led him to study violin making, according to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff's Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart. As the son of a carpenter, he was already well-versed in woodworking. He built his first cello and then his first new violin in 1885.

Craft

• Instrument Production: John Dilworth attributes 180 violins, 35 violas, 20 cellos, and 60 double-basses to him. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, writing earlier, noted he had built 178 new violins, 31 violas, 17 violoncelli, and 58 basses up to that point.
• Model Preference: He primarily imitated the Stainer model.
• Arching and Sound Holes: For quickly falling arching, he arranged the sound holes elliptically, believing this prevented the straight-running wood fibers from being cut too short. For flatter arching, he used round sound holes, following Bagatella's prescriptions.
• Workmanship: His work is described as careful, producing instruments with a full and soft tone.
• Repair Work: He was also esteemed as a repairer and was entrusted with work for the Bückeburg court orchestra through Professor Sahle.

Influence

• Early Instruction: He received initial guidance from Meister Weber in Möllenbeck near Rinteln.
• Theoretical Study: Meister Weber also provided him with Bagatella's writings and similar books.
• Advanced Training: He completed his training in Markneukirchen, where he diligently studied the works of old masters.

Further Information

• Workshop Location: Stadthagen, Germany.
• Label Inscription: His instruments bear the inscription "Carl Bernhard / Geigenmacher / Stadthagen Ao. 19.."