Violin by Knute Reindahl, Chicago 1905

A remarkable violin crafted by Knute Reindahl in Chicago in 1905, believed to have been dedicated to the prodigious violinist Franz von Vecsey during his American tour. The back plate bears a painted portrait of Vecsey, then only 12 years old.

The violin’s scroll is intricately carved with the head of Joseph Joachim, Vecsey’s revered teacher, closely resembling the carved head Reindahl later created for the violin presented to Fritz Kreisler. Together, these elements reflect Reindahl’s exceptional craftsmanship and illuminate a compelling historical link between master and student, making this instrument a centerpiece of the exhibition.

Knute Reindahl (1857–1936) was born in Telemark, Norway, into a long-established family of fiddle makers tracing back to his great-grandfather, Olav Gullbekk. He emigrated to Wisconsin in 1869 and later moved to Chicago, where he worked as an ornamental woodcarver for the Pullman Car Company and as foreman at the Windsor Folding Bed Company. Reindahl began making violins in the early 1890s, opening a studio in the Atheneum Building in 1899, and continued producing instruments there until 1915, when he returned to Madison, Wisconsin. Working entirely alone and without machinery, he built at least 585 violins, about 20 violas and 20 cellos, along with bows, a guitar, and a “Viking Cello,” and his instruments are noted for fine carving, engraving, and distinctive, often large scrolls.

Maker: Knute Reindahl 

Region: Chicago, U. S. A. 

Year: 1905

Specifications 

      Body Length: 354mm

      Upper Bout: 166mm

      Middle Bout: 116mm

      Lower Bout: 205.5mm

Certification: LAVS

SKU: P1147-DM-Ci420

Level: Professional