Leopold Kranzer

History

Leopold Kranzer (1797-1874) was born in 1797 and died in 1874 in Blasenstein, Austria. According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff's Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart, he was the son of a cottager and engaged in various carving activities even as a shepherd boy. He occasionally received broken violins from the old village schoolmaster, which he disassembled to learn their construction, subsequently attempting to make a violin himself. The success of his initial attempts encouraged further endeavors, and due to his natural aptitude, he eventually achieved remarkable skill, soon receiving orders from many quarters. John Dilworth's The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers states that he was a pupil of Frank in Linz. However, Lütgendorff notes that he lacked formal instruction, stating that he would undoubtedly have become an artist if he had not lacked all guidance.

Craft

• Instrument Production: He made violins, violoncellos, and double basses.
• Material Selection: He understood how to consistently procure very good wood.
• Workmanship: Despite skillful execution, many of his works exhibited flaws, such as often conspicuously high arching and a disregard for the grain of the tops being parallel to the center line. John Dilworth describes his work as having a broad, high-arched model and coarse workmanship with yellow varnish.
• Tools: He used almost exclusively an ordinary pocket knife as his tool.

Influence

• Mentorship: Sources contain conflicting information about Leopold Kranzer's training. According to John Dilworth, he was a pupil of Frank in Linz. However, Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states that he lacked formal instruction and guidance.

Legacy

• Family Continuity: His son, also named Leopold Kranzer, made some violins in his youth but later pursued a different profession.

Further Information

• Geographic Location: He was born and died in Blasenstein, Austria.
• Label Inscription: An example of his label reads "Leopold Kranzer / in St. Thomas am Blasenstein / im Mühlkreis 1842".

Summary

Leopold Kranzer (1797-1874) was an Austrian violin maker from Blasenstein who, despite a lack of formal training according to some accounts, developed remarkable skill in crafting violins, violoncellos, and double basses. He was known for his self-taught approach, often using a simple pocket knife, and for his ability to source quality wood. While his instruments sometimes exhibited characteristic flaws like high arching, he received numerous commissions. Sources conflict on whether he was a pupil of Frank in Linz or entirely self-taught.