Anders Christiansen Kleven

Oslo, b. 1855

after 1910 Oslo Norway. Cabinet maker and active luthier from c.1890. Finely crafted Stradivari models, working in Vuillaume style. Transparent golden-yellow spirit varnish. About 150 instruments completed. Prizes awarded in Bergen 1878, Stockholm 1897, and Paris 1900. Stockholm 1897 Diplom / Paris \u{2026} — John Dilworth

Worked Oslo

Maker Overview

Life

Anders Christiansen Kleven (1855-after 1910) was born in 1855., he made a violin at the age of eight, which led to his apprenticeship with a cabinet and model maker. He later received some instruction from Peterson in Chicago. After a three-year stay in Chicago, he returned to his homeland and settled in Christiania (now Oslo) in 1878 as a carpenter. In 1890, he gave up this profession to dedicate himself exclusively to violin making. John Dilworth notes that he was an active luthier from approximately 1890 in Oslo, Norway, and died after 1910.

Characteristics

Models: He crafted Stradivari models and worked in the Vuillaume style. He also developed his own elongated model.
Varnish: He used a transparent golden-yellow spirit varnish, which Willibald Leo Lütgendorff describes as a light yellow-brown spirit varnish of his own invention.
Output: Sources contain conflicting information regarding the number of instruments completed; John Dilworth states approximately 150 instruments, while Willibald Leo Lütgendorff indicates he had made about 100 violins and performed over 1200 repairs.
Hardanger Violins: He made notable improvements to the so-called Hardanger violins, extending the strings from 29 cm to 32 cm and adding four new sympathetic strings.

Recorded labels

Stockholm 1897John Dilworth
Diplom / Paris 1900John Dilworth
Bronce / Bergen 1878John Dilworth
Guld / A. C. Kleven / Violinmager / KristianiaJohn Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Mentorship: He received some instruction from Peterson in Chicago.
Awards: He was awarded prizes in Bergen in 1878 (Gold), Stockholm in 1897 (Diplom), and Paris in 1900 (Bronze).
Exhibitions: In Paris in 1900, he was represented by a fine quartet of instruments.

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Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

KLEVEN, Anders Christiansen Born 1855, d. after 1910 Oslo Norway. Cabinet maker and active luthier from c.1890. Finely crafted Stradivari models, working in Vuillaume style. Transparent golden-yellow spirit varnish. About 150 instruments completed. Prizes awarded in Bergen 1878, Stockholm 1897, and Paris 1900. Stockholm 1897 Diplom / Paris 1900 Bronce / Bergen 1878 Guld / A. C. Kleven / Violinmager / Kristiania

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Von musikalisch gebildeten Eltern abstammend, machte er schon in seinem
achten Jahre eine Geige. Durch diese Talentprobe veranlasst, gab man ihn zu
einem Möbel- und Modelltischler in die Lehre, und wenn er sich in seinen
Mussestunden auch noch mit dem Geigenmachen beschäftigte, so erhielt er doch
erst von Peterson in Chicago einigen Unterricht. Nach einem dreijährigen
Aufenthalt in Chicago kehrte er in seine Heimath zurück und liess sich 1878
zunächst als Tischler in Christiania nieder. Im Jahre 1890 gab er diesen Beruf
auf, um sich ausschliesslich dem Geigenbau zu widmen. Er arbeitet nach Stradivari
und Vuillaume und verwendet einen hellgelbbraunen Spirituslack eigener Erfindung. Er besitzt auch ein eigenes, längliches Modell und hat an -den sog. Hardangerviolinen einige bemerkenswerthe Verbesserungen angebracht, so verlängert er die Saiten von 29 auf 32 cm und bringt vier neue mitklingende Saiten an. In Paris 1900 war er durch ein schönes Quartett vertreten. Er hat bis jetzt an 100 Geigen gemacht und über 1200 Reparaturen ausgeführt und wurde durch Medaillen und Diplome ausgezeichnet.

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