Andreas Ferdinand Mayr

History

Andreas Ferdinand Mayr (b. Vienna, worked circa 1720-1764) was a luthier who served as Hof-Lauten- und Geigenmacher to the Archbishop's court in Salzburg, Austria, according to John Dilworth. Cecie Stainer notes that he was active in Salzburg from about 1740-1780. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff mentions his earliest known works include a violin from 1722 and a repair from 1723. By about 1740, he held the title of Hof-Lauten- und Geigenmacher. Lütgendorff also clarifies that this title humorously led to the creation of a violin maker named "Mayrhof" in literature, which was uncritically passed from one book to another. Both Cecie Stainer and John Dilworth state that he is said to have made the small violin on which Mozart learned to play.

Craft

• Model: Andreas Ferdinand Mayr followed the Stainer model in his violins, as noted by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff and John Dilworth.
• Varnish: According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, his varnish was dark red or brown.
• Tone: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff describes the tone of his instruments as quite good.
• Workmanship: John Dilworth characterizes his workmanship as fairly neat.
• Arching: His instruments were high-arched, according to John Dilworth.
• Scroll: The scroll was quite oval-shaped, as described by John Dilworth.
• Soundholes: John Dilworth notes that the soundholes were widely spaced and upright.

Legacy

• Mozart's Violin: He is credited with making the small violin on which Mozart learned to play, as stated by Cecie Stainer and John Dilworth.
• Museum Holdings: A violoncello from 1726 is housed in the Museum Kraus in Florence, according to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff.
• Collection Holdings: A lute is part of the Snoeck collection, and another lute from 1736 is in the Kärntner Landesmuseum in Klagenfurt, as documented by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff.
• Princely Collections: A lute from 1747 is located in the Fürstlich Hohenzollernsches Museum in Sigmaringen, as mentioned by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff.
• Local Museum Holdings: A violin from 1722 and a repair from 1723 are preserved in the Städtisches Museum Carolino Augusteum in Salzburg, according to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff.

Further Information

• Working Locations: He was born in Vienna and worked in Salzburg, Austria, according to John Dilworth.
• Labels: A lute bore the label "Andreas Ferdinand Mayr Hof Lauten und Geigenmacher in Salzburg, 1741", and a similar label printed in German characters was dated 1777, as reported by Cecie Stainer. John Dilworth also cites a label reading "Andreas Ferdinandus Mayr / Hof-Lauten-und Geigenmacher / in Salzburg, An 1735".

Summary

Andreas Ferdinand Mayr (b. Vienna, worked circa 1720-1764) was a prominent luthier based in Salzburg, Austria, serving as Hof-Lauten- und Geigenmacher to the Archbishop's court. Active from at least 1722 until possibly 1780, he is famously credited with making the small violin on which Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart learned to play. Mayr's instruments, which followed the Stainer model, are characterized by their high arching, oval-shaped scrolls, neat workmanship, and dark red or brown varnish, producing a good tone. His work is preserved in various collections and museums, including a violoncello from 1726 in Florence and lutes in Klagenfurt and Sigmaringen.