Christian Heinrich Siefert
1831–1889
Christian Heinrich SIEFERT (1831-1889) was a self-taught German violin maker who transitioned from owning a tailor's shop to lutherie after acquiring a Stradivari violin in 1861. He moved to Leipzig in 1875, where he became known for his meticulous craftsmanship, developing his own models based on Stradivari, and producing instruments with noble tone and vibrant varnish. He was also a skilled restorer of old violins.
Maker Overview
Life
Christian Heinrich SIEFERT (1831-1889) was originally the owner of a tailor's shop and a rather good amateur violinist. In 1861, he accidentally acquired a genuine Stradivari violin, which sparked his interest in violin making. He began attempting to make violins with the simplest tools, succeeding beyond expectation due to his particular aptitude. Competent musicians noticed his work and encouraged him to dedicate himself entirely to violin making, which he eventually did. He continuously perfected his art and soon made a name for himself. In 1875, he moved to Leipzig and, through continuous study, became one of the most skilled German masters of his time., he established himself professionally in Leipzig in 1875 with the encouragement of the violinist Ferdinand David.
Characteristics
- Workmanship
- He was exceptionally conscientious in his work, selecting wood as carefully as possible.
- Models
- He eventually developed his own model, creating three different patterns, and made a separate drawing for each violin.
- Production
- He rarely made violas and cellos.
- Labels
- His violins bear his handwritten label. Those made with the assistance of others are explicitly designated as "Schülergeigen" (student violins). John Dilworth notes that those made by his assistants have printed labels qualified as 'Schülergeige'.
- Varnish
- His varnish is beautiful and appears bright because he disdained staining or coloring the wood beforehand. John Dilworth describes it as good clear and vibrant varnish, highly coloured.
- Tone
- The tone is noble, the response soft, and his violins are among those that promise to improve year by year.
- Restoration
- Given his conscientiousness, he was also an excellent restorer of old violins.
- Heinrich Siefert
Streich-Instrumentenmacher
Leipzig. 1884
Hainstrasse 3 (am Markt)John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Training: He was self-taught (Autodidakt).
- Mentorship/Inspiration: He incessantly studied the works of Stradivari, especially the violin he owned, which he used as a model. He was encouraged by competent musicians and specifically by the violinist Ferdinand David.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
SIEFERT, Christian Heinrich Born 1831 Eisenach, died 1889 Leipzig Germany. Self-taught from c.1861. Moved to Leipzig and established there professionally 1875 with the encouragement of the violinist Ferdinand David. Stradivari and personal models. Good clear and vibrant varnish; highly coloured. Manuscript label. Those made by his assistants have printed labels qualified as ‘Schülergeige’. Heinrich Siefert / Streich-Instrumentenmacher / Leipzig. 1884 / Hainstrasse 3 (am Markt)
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Er war ursprünglich Besitzer eines Schneidergeschäfts und dabei als Dilettant ein ziemlich guter Geiger. Im Jahre 1861 kam er durch Zufall in den Besitz einer echten Stradivari-Geige und seitdem begann er sich auch für das Geigenmachen zu interessiren; schliesslich machte er mit den einfachsten Werkzeugen den Versuch, selbst Geigen herzustellen, was ihm bei seiner besonderen Veranlagung über alles Erwarten gelang. Tüchtige Musiker wurden auf ihn aufmerksam und ermunterten ihn, sich ganz dem Geigenmachen zu widmen, was er zuletzt auch hat. Er vervollkommnete sich in dieser Kunst immer mehr und erwarb sich bald einen Namen. Im Jahre 1875 siedelte er nach Leipzig über und brachte es durch fortgesetztes Studium dahin, dass er zu den geschicktesten deutschen Meistern seiner Zeit gerechnet werden kann. Er war Autodidakt, studirte aber unablässig die Werke Stradivari’s und besonders die in seinem Besitze befindliche Geige, die er sich zum Vorbild genommen hatte. In der Arbeit war er ungemein gewissenhaft; das Holz wählte er so sorgfältig, als nur möglich und bildete sich schliesslich ein eigenes Modell (drei verschiedene Patrone). Übrigens fertigte er zu jeder Geige eine eigene Zeichnung an. Bratschen und Violoncelli hat er nur selten gemacht. Seine Violinen tragen seinen handschriftlichen Zettel, und solche, an denen fremde Hände mitgearbeitet haben, sind ausdrücklich als »Schülergeigen« bezeichnet. Sein Lack ist schön und wirkt nur desshalb zu hell, weil er das Holz vorher zu beizen oder zu färben verschmähte. Der Ton ist edel, die Ansprache weich, und seine Violinen gehören zu denen, die versprechen, von Jahr zu Jahr besser zu werden. Dass er bei der Gewissenhaftigkeit, die ihn auszeichnete, auch ein trefflicher Wiederhersteller alter Geigen war, ist kaum besonders zu erwähnen.
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Family
Gustav Siefert Son