Andreas Ferdinand Mayr

Name: Andreas Ferdinand Mayr auction price records, Amati Instrument Archive
Creator: Amati

Salzburg, Vienna, worked 1720–1764

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.

Worked Salzburg, Vienna

Made Viola, Violin

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£13,462

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Violin	Labelled Matthias Albani, some table and back restorations	December 2024	£13,462
Violin	Labelled Andreas Ferdinandus Mayr, Hof-Laut-und Geigenmacher, in Salzburg An 1714	October 2024	£8,026
Violin		August 2013	£1,125
Violin	35.3 cm 1733 c. (multible repairs) [Attributed to]	October 2010	£682
Violin	35.8 cm Salzburg, 1740 c.	October 2009	£6,600
Violin	36.1 cm Salzburg, 1745-50 c. [Ascribed to]	March 2007	£4,019
Violin	1720	July 2003	£8,400
Violin	1730	March 1994	£3,220
Viola	39.1 cm 1750 c.	June 1991	£2,640
Violin	1740	September 1989	£3,520
Violin	1726	November 1986	£3,080
Violin	1735	September 1981	£1,540

Maker Overview

Life

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. 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.

Characteristics

Model: Andreas Ferdinand Mayr followed the Stainer model in his violins.
Varnish: , 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.
Scroll: The scroll was quite oval-shaped.
Soundholes: John Dilworth notes that the soundholes were widely spaced and upright.

Recorded labels

Andreas Ferdinandus Mayr
Hof-Lauten-und Geigenmacher
in Salzburg, An 1735John Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Mozart's Violin: He is credited with making the small violin on which Mozart learned to play.
Museum Holdings: A violoncello from 1726 is housed in the Museum Kraus in Florence.
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.
Local Museum Holdings: A violin from 1722 and a repair from 1723 are preserved in the Städtisches Museum Carolino Augusteum in Salzburg.

Found an error? Report Now

Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

MAYR, Andreas Ferdinand b. Vienna, Worked circa. 1720-1764 Salzburg Austria. Luthier to the Archbishop’s court. Stainer models. High-arched. Scroll quite oval-shaped. Fairly neat workmanship. Soundholes widely spaced and upright. Made Mozart’s first violin. Andreas Ferdinandus Mayr / Hof-Lauten-und Geigenmacher / in Salzburg, An 1735

Cecie Stainer+

A maker in Salzburg about 1740-80. Is said to have made the small violin on which Mozart learnt to play. In a lute was the label: ” Andreas Ferdinand Mayr Hof Lauten und Geigenmacher in Salzburg, 1741 ” ; a similar label, printed in German characters, was dated 1777.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

In seinen Geigen folgte er dem Stainer-Modell; seine Arbeit ist sorgfältig,
der Lack dunkelroth oder braun und der Ton recht gut. Ein Violoncello von
ihm aus dem Jahre 1726 befindet sich im Museum Kraus in Florenz, eine Laute
in der Sammlung Snoeck und ein gleiches Instrument von 1736 im kärnthn.
Landesmuseum in Klagenfurt, ferner ein gleiches von 1747 im fürstl. hohenzollernschen
Museum in Sigmaringen. Als seine ältesten Arbeiten kenne ich
eine Geige von 1722, ferner eine Reparatur von 1723 im städtischen Museum
Carolino Augusteum in Salzburg. Um 1740 besass er bereits den Titel eines
Hof-Lauten- und Geigenmachers. Dieser Titel gab komischer Weise den Anlass, dass in der Literatur ein Geigenmacher »Mayrhof« entstand und kritiklos von einem Buche in das andere
überging.

Sell your instrument with Amati

Get started by uploading photos of your instrument for our experts to review.

Get a Valuation

Sell your instrument with Amati

Get started by uploading photos of your instrument for our experts to review.

Get a Valuation