Louis Otto

Name: Louis Otto auction price records, Amati Instrument Archive
Creator: Amati

Dresden, Dusseldorf, Ludwigslust, 1844–1920

Louis Otto (1844-1920) was a distinguished German luthier, born in Ludwigslust and active in Düsseldorf. He trained under his father, Johann Karl August Otto, and was significantly influenced by his time with A. Reichers in Hanover. Establishing his own workshop in 1872, he became the princely Hohenzollern's court violin maker. Otto was renowned for his exceptionally fine workmanship, utilizing aged wood and his self-developed orange oil varnish. He crafted a variety of instruments, including violins, violas, cellos, and specialized five-string double basses for the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, primarily following Stradivari models. His expertise also extended to the skillful restoration of numerous antique instruments, and his contributions were recognized with awards at international exhibitions.

Worked Dresden, Dusseldorf, Ludwigslust

Made Cello Bow, Viola, Viola Bow, Violin, Violin Bow

Taught by Johann Karl August Otto

Family Son of Johann Karl August Otto

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£3,500

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Violin		October 2012	£3,500
Violin	35.9 cm DÃ¼sseldorf, 1888	October 2011	£1,584
Viola	40.3 cm Dusseldorf, 1898	June 2009	£1,560
Violin Bow	S/E 61 g. DÃ¼sseldorf, 1920 c. "Vuillaume" model	November 2008	£798
Violin	Dusseldorf, 1909 #453	November 2005	£2,053
Violin Bow	N/E 56 g.	May 2005	£65
Cello Bow	S/E 71 g.	October 2004	£398
Violin	1898	June 2001	£1,680
Viola Bow	S/E 72 g.	April 1992	£352
Violin	1899	November 1991	£1,100
Violin	1895	March 1989	£990
Violin	1912	June 1982	£594

Maker Overview

Life

Louis Otto (1844-1920) was born on July 15, 1844, in Ludwigslust, Mecklenburg, and passed away in 1920 in Düsseldorf, Germany. He was the son and pupil of Johann Karl August Otto. From 1860 to 1865, he trained with his father in Ludwigslust. Subsequently, he worked with his cousin, Ludwig Otto, in Cologne from November 1, 1865, until April 22, 1866. Following this, he joined A. Reichers in Hanover, where he remained until September 22, 1872. The very next day, he established his own independent business in Düsseldorf, located on Schützenstrasse. He was appointed luthier to the court, specifically as princely Hohenzollern's court violin maker. By the time Cecie Stainer's dictionary was published, his son was also working under him.

Characteristics

Instrument Production: Louis Otto is credited with producing a significant number of instruments. John Dilworth states he made about 300 violins, 50 violas, 50 cellos, and several double basses. Cecie Stainer, however, records approximately 238 violins, 13 violas, and 33 violoncellos. Sources contain conflicting information regarding the exact number of instruments produced.
Models: Initially, he built instruments based on Amati models. Later, he embraced Stradivari and Guarneri patterns, eventually working almost exclusively after Stradivari, often using a large pattern.
Workmanship: His workmanship was considered very fine, and in terms of careful execution, he was said to be unsurpassed. He was one of the few violin makers of his time who still manufactured all parts of his stringed instruments himself.
Materials: He utilized beautiful wood, often not less than twenty years old, and employed good quality varnish.
Varnish: He developed and used an oil varnish of his own invention, which was orange in color. Since 1894, he also produced an oil varnish that was adopted by many of his colleagues.
Personal Involvement: He personally and accurately determined the thicknesses of the back and front, cut the sound-holes, placed the sound-posts, carved the scroll, and performed the varnishing.
Specialized Instruments: From 1900, at the suggestion of Music Director Mengelberg of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, he began making five-string double basses. The Concertgebouw Orchestra acquired six of these, which were widely admired for their magnificent tonal richness and exceptionally clean execution. These basses were made after a self-designed model in the Stradivari type.
Repairs: He was very skillful at repairs, having restored about 850 fine old instruments.

Recorded labels

Louis Otto
fecit Düsseldorf anno 1899
No. 289John Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Mentorship: Louis Otto was the son and pupil of Johann Karl August Otto.
Collaborations: He worked with his cousin, Ludwig Otto, in Cologne.
Key Influence: He worked with A. Reichers in Hanover, and the time spent with Reichers had a lasting impact on him; he is rightly considered one of Reichers' best pupils.
Awards: Louis Otto received prizes at exhibitions in Düsseldorf (1880), Melbourne (1888), and Chicago (1893).
Royal Appointment: He was appointed luthier to the court, serving as the princely Hohenzollern's court violin maker.
Family Continuity: His son worked under him in his Düsseldorf workshop.

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Biographies

The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:

John Dilworth+

Louis Born 1844 Ludwigslust, Mecklenburg, died 1920 Düsseldorf Germany. Son and pupil of Johann Karl August Otto, above. Worked with his cousin Ludwig, below, in Cologne 1865-1866. Subsequently with A. Reichers in Hanover. Established independently in Düsseldorf on Schützenstrasse from 1872. Appointed luthier to the court. Credited with about 300 violins, 50 violas, 50 cellos, and several double basses. Initially built on Amati models; later embraced Stradivari and Guarneri patterns. Very fine workmanship. Materials and varnish of good quality. Awarded prizes at Düsseldorf, Melbourne, and Chicago. Louis Otto / fecit Düsseldorf anno 1899 / No. 289

George Hart+

Son of Carl, now living.

Cecie Stainer+

Son of Carl August Otto ; b. July 15, 1844, Ludwigslust. Pupil of his father in Ludwigslust, 1860-65 ; worked with his cousin, Ludwig Otto,, in Cologne, 1865-66, then went to Hanover, where he worked with Aug. Riechers till 1872. In the same year started his own business in Düsseldorf, at 16, Schützenstrasse, where he still works, assisted by two workmen.
He is very skilful at repairs, and has repaired about 850 fine old instruments. For his new instruments he uses beautiful wood, not less than twenty years old, and follows the Stradivari model, large pattern, using good oil varnish, orange colour, of his own invention; the tone is of fine, full quality. He himself accurately determines the thicknesses of back and front, cuts the sound-holes, places the sound-posts, carves the scroll, and does the varnishing. About 238 violins, 13 violas, and 33 violoncellos have been made.
He gained first prizes at the Exhibitions in Düsseldorf, 1880 ; Melbourne, 1888; and Chicago, 1893. His son now works under him.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Sohn und Schüler von Carl Aug. O. Am 1. November 1865 ging er zu
seinem Vetter Ludwig O. nach Köln und blieb da bis zum 22. April 1866.
Hierauf kam er zu Aug. Riechers nach Hannover, bei dem er bis 22. September
1872 blieb. Tags darauf begründete er in Düsseldorf sein eigenes Geschäft.
Die Zeit, die er bei Riechers zugebracht hat, war von nachhaltigem Einfluss
auf ihn und er gilt mit Recht als einer der besten Schüler dieses Meisters. Er
ist einer der wenigen Geigenmacher, die auch heute noch ihre Streichinstrumente
in allen Theilen selbst herstellen. In Bezug auf die Sorgfalt der Ausführung
wird er von Niemand übertroffen. In seiner ersten Zeit arbeitete er nach Amati
und Guarneri, jetzt aber ausschliesslich nach Stradivari. Er besitzt viele Auszeichnungen und ist fürstl. hohenzollern’scher Hofgeigenmacher. Seit 1894 stellt
er auch einen Öllack her, der von vielen Fachgenossen angewendet wird. Auf
Anregung des Musikdirektors Mengelberg des Amsterdamer Concertgebouw
Orchesters macht er seit 1900 auch fünfsaitige Contrabässe, von denen das
genannte Orchester 6 Stück besitzt, die allgemein Bewunderung wegen ihrer herrlichen Tonfülle und ungemein sauberen Ausführung erregen. Die Bässe sind nach einem selbst
entworfenen Modell in Stradivari-Typus gemacht.