Blasenstein School
Leopold Kranzer
Blasenstein, 1797–1874
Leopold Kranzer (1797-1874) was an Austrian violin maker from Blasenstein who, despite a lack of formal training according to some accounts, developed remarkable skill in crafting violins, violoncellos, and double basses. He was known for his self-taught approach, often using a simple pocket knife, and for his ability to source quality wood. While his instruments sometimes exhibited characteristic flaws like high arching, he received numerous commissions. Sources conflict on whether he was a pupil of Frank in Linz or entirely self-taught.
Maker Overview
Life
Leopold Kranzer (1797-1874) was born in 1797 and died in 1874 in Blasenstein, Austria.'s Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart, he was the son of a cottager and engaged in various carving activities even as a shepherd boy. He occasionally received broken violins from the old village schoolmaster, which he disassembled to learn their construction, subsequently attempting to make a violin himself. The success of his initial attempts encouraged further endeavors, and due to his natural aptitude, he eventually achieved remarkable skill, soon receiving orders from many quarters. John Dilworth's The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers states that he was a pupil of Frank in Linz. However, Lütgendorff notes that he lacked formal instruction, stating that he would undoubtedly have become an artist if he had not lacked all guidance.
Characteristics
- Instrument Production
- He made violins, violoncellos, and double basses.
- Material Selection
- He understood how to consistently procure very good wood.
- Workmanship
- Despite skillful execution, many of his works exhibited flaws, such as often conspicuously high arching and a disregard for the grain of the tops being parallel to the center line. John Dilworth describes his work as having a broad, high-arched model and coarse workmanship with yellow varnish.
- Tools
- He used almost exclusively an ordinary pocket knife as his tool.
- Leopold Kranzer
in St. Thomas am Blasenstein
im Mühlkreis 1842John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Mentorship: Sources contain conflicting information about Leopold Kranzer's training., he was a pupil of Frank in Linz. However, Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states that he lacked formal instruction and guidance.
- Family Continuity: His son, also named Leopold Kranzer, made some violins in his youth but later pursued a different profession.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
KRANZER, Leopold Born 1797, died 1874 Blasenstein Austria. Pupil of Frank in Linz. Broad high-arched model. Coarse workmanship with yellow varnish. Leopold Kranzer / in St. Thomas am Blasenstein / im Mühlkreis 1842
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Er war der Sohn eines Häuslers und beschäftigte sich schon als Hirtenknabe
mit allerlei Schnitzarbeiten. Vom alten Dorfschulmeister erhielt er gelegentlich
eine zerbrochene Violine, die er zerlegte, um ihren Bau kennen zu
lernen, worauf er es versuchte, selbst eine Geige anzufertigen. Der Erfolg ermunterte
ihn zu weiteren Versuchen, und bei seiner natürlichen Veranlagung
brachte er es schliesslich zu einer bemerkenswerthen Fertigkeit, und bald bekam
er von vielen Seiten Bestellungen. Er machte auch Violoncelli und Contrabässe
und verstand es, sich stets recht gutes Holz zu verschaffen. Es ist zweifellos,
dass er das Zeug dazu gehabt hat, ein Künstler zu werden, wenn ihm nicht
alle Anleitung gefehlt hätte. So haftet vielen seiner Arbeiten, trotz geschickter
Durchführung, manches Fehlerhafte an: er nahm die Wölbung oft auffallend
hoch und machte sich wenig daraus, wenn die Jahre der Decken nicht parallel
zur Mittellinie standen. Als Werkzeugs bediente er sich fast ausschliesslich eines gewöhnlichen Taschenmessers. Sein gleichnamiger Sohn hat in der Jugend auch einige Geigen gemacht, später aber einen anderen Beruf ergriffen.
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