Louis Lowenthal

History

Louis Lowenthal (1836-?) began his career working from 1855 in Berlin, Germany, having learned the cello as a child. According to John Dilworth's The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers, he founded his own business in 1855, manufacturing on a large scale. He expanded into an American branch in 1867, where he anglicized his name from Lowenthall to Lowendall. He also began a trade in antique instruments and tonewood. He returned to Dresden in 1873, regularly visiting the USA and London thereafter. From 1889, his company occupied a large building in Reichenberger Strasse, Berlin. However, Willibald Leo Lütgendorff's Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart states that the business enterprise was founded in Dresden in 1866 by L. Löwenthal, a merchant, and that his son later joined as a partner. Lütgendorff notes that Lowenthal primarily worked for overseas export, employing a number of highly skilled assistants, from whose workshop instruments of real artistic value emerged.

Craft

• Training: Louis Lowenthal was taught violin and bow making by Bausch in Leipzig and Heinrich Knopf in Berlin.
• Models: He made a celebrated copy of Ole Bull's del Gesù violin of 1744 and generally followed Stradivari models.
• Aesthetics: His instruments were beautifully and accurately worked, featuring a fine golden-red varnish.
• Innovation: He devised and patented an internal 'resonator bar' in 1900. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff further details this invention, noting that Lowenthal described it in a publication titled 'Fachmännische Erläuterungen über den von mir erfundenen Resonator-Violin-Stimmbalken für Streichinstrumte' (Berlin 1900, Selbstverlag, 17 S. in 8°).
• Branding: Instruments were branded internally with 'L. Lowendahl 1880 / Dresden'. According to Lütgendorff, his label with the name Lowendall (which he adopted in America) is found only in instruments of real artistic value produced by his skilled assistants.

Influence

• Teachers: Louis Lowenthal was taught violin and bow making by Bausch in Leipzig and Heinrich Knopf in Berlin.

Legacy

• Awards: He was awarded silver medals at the London Inventions Exhibition and at Bologna.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: Louis Lowenthal's business operated from Berlin and Dresden, with an American branch established in 1867.
• Specific Address: From 1889, the company occupied a large building in Reichenberger Strasse, Berlin.

Summary

Louis Lowenthal (1836-?) was a German violin and bow maker who established a significant business in the late 19th century. Trained by Bausch and Heinrich Knopf, he founded his own enterprise, expanding into an American branch where he anglicized his name to Lowendall. He was known for following Stradivari models, producing a celebrated copy of Ole Bull's del Gesù violin, and for his innovative patented 'resonator bar' devised in 1900. His work was recognized with silver medals at exhibitions in London and Bologna.