Richard Weichold

Name: Richard Weichold auction price records, Amati Instrument Archive
Creator: Amati

Dresden, 1823–1902

Richard Weichold (1823-1902) was a German violin and bow maker, son of August Weichold and pupil of Pfretzschner. He established his workshop in Dresden, becoming a court luthier and producing a wide range of bowed and plucked instruments, as well as fine bows. He was known for his 1860 invention of a process for pure fifth strings and his experiments with wood aging and varnish. His business continued after his retirement, eventually leading to the establishment of the Weichold-Paulus-Stiftung at the Dresdener Conservatorium.

Worked Dresden

Made Cello Bow, Viola Bow, Violin, Violin Bow

Taught by Pfretzschner

Family Son of August Weichold

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£4,140

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Violin Bow	Nickel mounted, signed, minor handle wear, otherwise good condition	June 2024	£767
Violin Bow	Nickel mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold à Dresda, also stamped Imitation de Tourte	March 2024	£976
Violin Bow		June 2018	£708
Violin Bow		October 2012	£875
Violin Bow	N/E 59.5 g. stamped "Tourte"	November 2011	£1,428
Violin Bow	N/E 59 g.	November 2011	£267
Violin Bow	S/E 60.0 g. without hair, also stamped "Imitation de Tourte" (frog & adjustor later)	May 2011	£583
Viola Bow	S/E 69.0 g.	October 2010	£826
Viola Bow	G/E 56.0 g. [Workshop of]	October 2010	£946
Violin Bow	S/E 56 g. [Probably by]	June 2010	£1,761
Viola Bow	S/E 55.0 g. Imitation de Tourte'	April 2010	£904
Violin Bow	N/E 56 g.	March 2010	£960
Violin Bow	S/E 60 g.	March 2010	£460
Violin Bow	S/E 58.5 g. also stamped "Imitation de Tourte"	October 2009	£960
Violin Bow	G/E 60.0 g.	October 2009	£1,200
Violin Bow	N/E 58 g. Dresden, 1880 c.	October 2009	£600
Violin Bow	S/E 56 g.	March 2009	£552
Violin Bow	S/E 61 g. Dresden, 1910 c.	November 2008	£1,197
Violin Bow	S/E 55 g. Dresden, 1890 c.	November 2008	£860
Violin Bow	S/E 64 g.	October 2008	£522
Violin Bow	S/E 52 g. without hair and silk winding	December 2007	£1,106
Cello Bow	S/E 81.0 g.	October 2007	£1,085
Violin Bow	S/E 58 g. also stamped "Imitation De Tourte"	October 2007	£806
Violin Bow	S/E 56 g.	March 2007	£188
Violin Bow	S/E 61 g.	October 2006	£632
Violin Bow	S/E 57 g.	May 2006	£538
Violin Bow	S/E 59 g.	November 2005	£553
Violin Bow	S/E 60.5 g.	October 2005	£786
Violin Bow	S/E 59 g. also stamped "Imitation de Tourte"	October 2005	£536
Violin Bow	S/E 55 g.	May 2005	£593
Violin Bow	S/E 59 g. also branded "Imitation de Tourte'"	April 2005	£251
Cello Bow	S/E 82.4 g.	March 2005	£840
Violin Bow	S/E 58.0 g.	February 2005	£558
Violin Bow	S/E 60.5 g.	February 2005	£787
Cello Bow	S/E 80 g.	November 2004	£1,150
Violin Bow	S/E 61 g.	November 2004	£552
Violin Bow	S/E 59.5 g.	October 2004	£700
Violin Bow	G/E 60 g.	September 2004	£956
Violin Bow	S/E 51 g. without hair	May 2004	£315
Violin Bow	S/E 55 g.	April 2004	£269
Violin Bow	also stamped "Imitation de Tourte", very fine	March 2004	£1,912
Cello Bow	S/E 73 g.	November 2003	£588
Violin Bow	S/E 55 g.	October 2003	£624
Violin	1899	November 2002	£4,140
Violin Bow	S/E 58 g.	June 2002	£657
Violin Bow	N/E 55 g.	June 2002	£418
Cello Bow	S/E 76 g.	May 2002	£1,262
Violin Bow	N/E 56 g.	May 2002	£374
Violin Bow	S/E 57 g.	March 2002	£763
Violin Bow	S/E 64 g.	March 2002	£400
Violin Bow	S/E 62 g.	October 2001	£2,553
Cello Bow	S/E 80 g.	September 2001	£862
Violin Bow	S/E 56 g.	May 2001	£885
Cello Bow	S/E 74 g.	March 2001	£963
Violin Bow	G/E 63 g.	March 2001	£900
Violin Bow	G/E 60 g.	May 2000	£634
Violin Bow	S/E 54 g.	May 2000	£560
Violin Bow	S/E 60 g.	May 2000	£1,679
Viola Bow	G/E 69 g.	November 1999	£1,000
Violin Bow	S/E 58 g.	November 1999	£550
Violin Bow	S/E 58 g.	November 1999	£483
Violin Bow	S/E 61 g.	November 1999	£532
Violin Bow	N/E 62 g.	September 1999	£300
Cello Bow	S/E 71 g.	November 1998	£368
Violin Bow	S/E 58 g.	November 1998	£517
Cello Bow	S/E 76 g.	November 1997	£255
Cello Bow	S/E 76 g.	March 1996	£437
Cello Bow	S/E 83 g.	November 1994	£552
Cello Bow	S/E 80 g.	June 1994	£209
Cello Bow	S/E 83 g.	December 1993	£418
Viola Bow	S/E 67 g.	June 1992	£748
Violin Bow	S/E 60 g. 'Imitation Tourte'	June 1990	£440
Violin Bow	S/E 58 g. 'Imitation Tourte'	March 1990	£880
Viola Bow	S/E 69 g.	April 1989	£660
Violin Bow	S/E 58 g. 'Imitation Tourte'	March 1986	£495
Viola Bow	S/E 68 g.	September 1985	£572

Maker Overview

Life

Richard WEICHOLD (1823-1902) was the son of August Weichold and a pupil of Pfretzschner in Markneukirchen. After some years of travel (Wanderjahre), he established himself in Hamburg but moved back to Dresden after a year, where he married Christiane Engst from Dahlen., he quickly gained a wide clientele, becoming a supplier to the court theater and the Catholic church, and was granted the court title. John Dilworth notes that he enlarged his father's business. In 1881, due to increasing deafness, he sold his business to Liebhold Meyer, but continued to work and conduct many experiments. He retired completely from private life in the early 1890s. His marriage remained childless. John Dilworth states he died in 1902 in Dresden, Germany.

Characteristics

Instrument Production: Richard Weichold crafted all types of violins, as well as guitars and zithers.
Bow Making: He also made very good bows, with John Dilworth noting that many fine bows were produced in various grades.
Innovation: In 1860, he invented a new process for producing pure fifth strings (quintenreine Saiten).
Experiments: He experimented with artificially aging violin wood, though with less success, and also engaged with the varnish question.

Recorded labels

Richard Weichold (Paulus) / DresdenJohn Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Family Background: Richard Weichold was the son of August Weichold.
Mentorship: He was a pupil of Pfretzschner in Markneukirchen.
Business Continuity: Although Richard Weichold sold his business to Liebhold Meyer in 1881, the business continued and later passed to August Paulus, who became a court supplier in 1902.
Philanthropy: August Paulus established the Weichold-Paulus-Stiftung at the Dresdener Conservatorium, annually donating a new violin from his workshop, valued at 350 M., for prize distribution starting from Easter 1899.
Distribution: The firm also held the exclusive distribution rights for string instruments made. Stelzner's system.

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Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

WEICHOLD, Richard Born 1823, died 1902 Dresden Germany. Violin and bow maker. Son of August Weichold, above. Pupil of Pfretzschner in Markneukirchen. Worked at Hamburg. Settled at Dresden. Appointed luthier to the court there. Enlarged his father’s business, but in 1881 passed the management of it to L. Meyer. Prolific maker of both plucked and bowed instruments. Many fine bows produced in various grades. Also developed string making techniques. Richard Weichold (Paulus) / Dresden

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Sohn von August W. Schüler von Pfretzschner in Markneukirchen. Nach einigen Wanderjahren machte er sich in Hamburg selbstständig, zog aber nach Jahresfrist von dort wieder fort, ging nach Dresden zurück und verheirathete sich mit Christiane Engst aus Dahlen. Er fand bald einen weiten Kundenkreis, wurde Lieferant des Hoftheaters, der katholischen Kirche etc. und bekam den Hoftitel. Er verfertigte alle Arten von Geigen, ferner Guitarren und Zithern und war ein gewiegter Kenner. 1860 erfand er ein neues Verfahren, um quintenreine Saiten herzustellen, und machte auch recht gute Bögen. Weniger Erfolg hatte er mit seinen Versuchen, das Geigenholz künstlich alt zu machen. (Vgl. seinen Aufsatz in De Wit’s Zeitschr. 1894. No. 33: »Ein neues Präparationsverfahren zum Altmachen von Tonhölzern.«) Wegen zunehmender Schwerhörigkeit verkaufte er 1881 sein Geschäft an Liebhold Meyer, arbeitete aber noch fort und stellte viele Versuche an; auch mit der Lackfrage beschäftigte er sich (vgl. »Zur Geigenlackfrage« De Wit’s Zeitschr. 1894. No. 7). Anfangs der neunziger Jahre zog er sich dann ganz in das Privatleben zurück. Seine Ehe war kinderlos geblieben, das Geschäft besteht jedoch noch fort und ist auf August Paulus übergegangen, der seit 1902 Hoflieferant ist. Paulus errichtete die Weichold-Paulus-Stiftung am Dresdener Conservatorium, indem er von Ostern 1899 an dieser Kunstanstalt jährlich eine aus seiner Werkstatt hervorgegangene neue Geige im Werthe von 350 M. zur Preisvertheilung schenkt. Die Firma hat auch den Alleinvertrieb der nach dem System Dr. Stelzner’s gemachten Streichinstrumente.

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