Matthias Johann Kolditz

Munich, worked 1710–1760

Matthias Johann Kolditz was a German violin maker active in Munich from approximately 1710 to 1760. He was known for his good workmanship, utilizing a low-arched, sometimes Stradivari-derived model, which was less highly arched than typical German instruments of his era. His instruments featured good wood, skillfully carved pegboxes, and a good red-brown varnish. He produced fine violas and violoncellos, with the latter often being larger than standard and occasionally featuring a carved rosette below the fingerboard.

Worked Munich

Maker Overview

Life

Matthias Johann Kolditz (circa 1710-1760) was a violin maker who worked in Munich, Germany., he was active in Munich from about 1720-1755, while John Dilworth specifies his working period as circa 1710-1760. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that Kolditz's work is close to Alletsee's but deviates noticeably in the models, suggesting he emerged from a different school. Lütgendorff also states that claims of a Tyrolean origin are highly improbable, unless it was a temporary stay before his relocation to Munich.

Characteristics

Model: His instruments featured a low-arched model, sometimes derived from Stradivari, and were less highly arched than was typical in Germany at the time.
Wood & Carvings: He utilized very good wood, and the carvings on the pegbox were skillfully executed.
Scrolls: Scrolls were small, occasionally featuring an extra carved embellishment on the pegbox.
Violas: He produced fine violas, with one known example having multi-curved ribs and a length of 65 cm.
Cellos: His violoncellos often deviated from usual proportions, favoring particularly large models, and sometimes included a special carved soundhole (rosette) below the fingerboard, in addition to the F-holes.
Varnish: He used a good red-brown varnish.

Recorded labels

Mathias Joannes
Kolditz Lauten- und Geigenmacher
in München 1760John Dilworth
Mathias Joannes
Koldiz, lauten- und Gei-
genmacher in München. 1739John Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Stylistic Proximity:'s work is stylistically close to that of Alletsee, though his models noticeably diverge, indicating he likely originated from a different school.

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Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

KOLDITZ (KOLDIZ), Matthias Johann Worked circa. 1710-1760 Munich Germany. Good work on low-arched model and Stradivari-derived form. Small scroll, sometimes with extra carved embellishment on the pegbox. Good red-brown varnish. Fine violas as well as violins; cellos occasionally with viol-like carved rosette above the soundholes. Mathias Joannes / Kolditz Lauten- und Geigenmacher / in München 1760 Mathias Joannes / Koldiz, lauten- und Gei- / genmacher in München. 1739

Cecie Stainer+

A maker in Münich about 1720-55.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

In seiner Arbeit steht er Alletsee nahe, weicht jedoch in den Modellen
merklich von ihm ab und ist zweifellos aus einer anderen Schule hervorgegangen.
Dass er aus Tyrol gekommen sei, wie behauptet wird, ist durchaus
unwahrscheinlich, es sei denn, dass er sich dort vor seiner Übersiedelung nach
München vorübergehend aufgehalten hat. Sein Modell ist weniger hochgewölbt
als damals in Deutschland üblich; eine Viola von ihm kenne ich, deren Zargen
mehrfach geschweift sind (Lange 65 cm). Sein Holz ist sehr gut; die Schnitzereien
am Wirbelkasten sind sehr geschickt ausgeführt. In seinen Violoncelli wich er
häufig von den üblichen Grössenverhältnissen ab und bevorzugte besonders grosse
Modelle; ausser den F-Löchern brachte er auch öfter unter dem Griffbrett noch
ein besonderes. geschnitztes Schalloch (Rosette) an.

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