Mathias Petter Kraft

History

Mathias Petter Kraft (1753-1807) was born in Gävle in 1753 and died in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1807. He served an apprenticeship with Pehr Lundborg from 1773 to 1778. By 1780, Kraft was appointed instrument maker to the court, establishing himself as a significant and successful craftsman of his era. According to John Dilworth, his will provided for the establishment of a school for the poor in Stockholm, which continued its operation until 1972.

Craft

• Instrument Types: Mathias Petter Kraft produced a wide variety of instruments, including all sorts of stringed and keyboard instruments. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that he later focused more on harp making and, from 1800 onwards, also made keyboard instruments. Specific examples include violas, a large cello measuring 77.3cm (30 ½"), lutes, harps, 13- and 15-string theorbes, and a Nagelharfe.
• Workmanship: John Dilworth describes his workmanship as good, showing a slightly Florentine combination of Tyrolean and Italian models, with Staineresque soundholes. His scrolls were well balanced but not scrupulously cut. Lütgendorff, however, states that his violins, which are rare, are not particularly good, while his lutes are better.
• Varnish: Instruments by Kraft feature a fine light golden-brown varnish.
• Labels: His labels include inscriptions such as "Matth. Pett. Kraft Köngl Hof / Instrument Makare Stockholm / Ao. 1781. No. 39" and "Pet. Kraft / Köngl hof Instrujn Makare / Stockholm." Lütgendorff mentions that his labels often depicted a lute and a harp alongside allegorical imagery, suggesting these were his specialties.

Influence

• Apprenticeship: Mathias Petter Kraft was apprenticed to Pehr Lundborg from 1773 to 1778.

Legacy

• Philanthropy: His will led to the establishment of a school for the poor in Stockholm, which remained active until 1972.
• Collections: Two small violas by Kraft are known, one dated 1787 is housed in the Cathedral school in Skara. Claudius in Malmö possesses a 13- and a 15-string theorbe and a Nagelharfe by him. The Hammer collection once held four of his theorbes. P. de Wit owns one theorbe, the Museum in Copenhagen has another, the Musikhistoriska Museum in Stockholm holds a harp from 1785, and the Museum in Gothenburg has a lute.

Summary

Mathias Petter Kraft (1753-1807) was a prominent Swedish instrument maker, born in Gävle and active in Stockholm. Apprenticed to Pehr Lundborg, he became instrument maker to the court in 1780. Kraft crafted a variety of stringed and keyboard instruments, including violas, cellos, lutes, harps, and theorbes, noted for their good workmanship, Florentine-Tyrolean-Italian influences, and light golden-brown varnish. His legacy includes a school for the poor established by his will and numerous instruments preserved in significant collections and museums across Europe.