(Bichler, Puchler) Marcell Pichler
Hallein, worked 1673
Marcell Pichler, also known by variations such as Bichler and Puechler, was a skilled lute and violin maker active around 1673 in Hallein, Austria. He is noted for his craftsmanship, with a viola d'amore featuring a crowned angel head preserved in the Museum of Salzburg. Pichler is also posited to have been the founder of Hallein's violin industry, which flourished for nearly a century. While some sources suggest an association with Stainer, this remains unproven. His varied name spellings have led to speculation about a possible familial link to the Salzburg master Marcell Puchler.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | 1691 | — | May 1981 | £242 |
| Violin | 16-- | — | May 1980 | £1,650 |
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Maker Overview
Life
(Bichler, Puchler) Marcell Pichler worked circa 1673 in Hallein, Austria., he was said to have been associated with Stainer, and even to have been an ancestor of Tecchler in Rome, though this is considered unlikely and unproven. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff describes him as a skilled lute and violin maker of the 17th century, and perhaps the founder of the violin industry in Hallein, which flourished for almost a hundred years. Lütgendorff notes that Pichler wrote his name variously as Pichler, Bichler, and Puechler, and his given name as Marcell and Mercell. This led Lütgendorff to suggest he might be the son of the Salzburg master Marcell Puchler.
Characteristics
- Workmanship
- A viola d'amore in the Museum of Salzburg, is well-made and features a head in the form of a crowned angel. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also notes that the Museum Carolino-Augusteum in Salzburg possesses a 'hübsche Arbeit' (pretty work) by him.
- Labels
- John Dilworth cites a label found on the viola d'amore as 'Marcell Bichler / Mach Hallein 1673'. Printed labels cited by Lütgendorff, Vannes et al. read 'Marcellus Pichler Geigenmacher allhier'. A manuscript label cited by Vannes, found in a 'large viol of Brescian school', reads 'Marcellus Puchler in / Salzburg Fecit Ao 1601'.
- The Museum of Salzburg has a viola d’amore; well-made, head in the form of a crowned angel, labelled: Marcell Bichler
Mach Hallein 1673John Dilworth - Printed labels cited by Lütgendorff, Vannes et al: Marcellus Pichler Geigenmacher allhier Manuscript label cited by Vannes, found in a ‘large viol of Brescian school’: Marcellus Puchler in
Salzburg Fecit Ao 1601John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Mentorship: Sources contain conflicting information regarding his association with Stainer. John Dilworth notes that Pichler was said to have been associated with Stainer, but this is unproven. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff mentions an old tradition that a very skilled violin maker named Pichler worked in Stainer's workshop and often represented the ailing master. Lütgendorff believes it is more probable that the master from Hallein or Salzburg was this alleged assistant to Stainer, rather than Tecchler, as Fleming believed.
- Family Connections: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff suggests that due to the variations in his name, Marcell Pichler might be considered a son of the Salzburg master Marcell Puchler.
- Museum Holdings: The Museum of Salzburg (specifically the Museum Carolino-Augusteum) possesses a viola d'amore by Pichler as a well-made instrument with a crowned angel head.
- Foundational Role: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff posits that Marcell Pichler might have been the founder of the violin industry in Hallein, which flourished for nearly a century.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
PICHLER (BICHLER, PÜCHLER), Marcell Worked circa. 1673 Hallein Austria. Said to have been associated with Stainer, and even to have been an ancestor of Tecchler in Rome, but this is unlikely and at least unproven. The Museum of Salzburg has a viola d’amore; well-made, head in the form of a crowned angel, labelled: Marcell Bichler / Mach Hallein 1673 Printed labels cited by Lütgendorff, Vannes et al: Marcellus Pichler Geigenmacher allhier Manuscript label cited by Vannes, found in a ‘large viol of Brescian school’: Marcellus Puchler in / Salzburg Fecit Ao 1601
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Tüchtiger Lauten- und Geigenmacher des 17. Jahrhunderts und vielleicht
der Begründer der fast hundert Jahre lang in Hallein (im Salzburgischen)
blühenden Geigenindustrie. Er schreibt seinen Namen bald Pichler und bald
Bichler und selbst Puechler, seinen Taufnamen Marcell und Mercell. Es liegt
daher nahe, ihn für einen Sohn des Salzburger Meisters Marcell Puchler zu
halten. Eine hübsche Arbeit von ihm besitzt das städtische Museum Carolino-
Augusteum in Salzburg. Es darf darauf aufmerksam gemacht werden, dass
nach einer alten Überlieferung ein sehr geschickter Geigenmacher des Namens
Pichler in Stainer’s Werkstatt gearbeitet und den kranken Meister oft vertreten
habe. Fleming glaubt, dass damit Tecchler gemeint sein könne. Wahrscheinlicher
ist es aber, dass der Halleiner oder Salzburger Meister jener angebliche Gehilfe Stainer’s war.
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