Baltazar (I) Dankwart

DANKWART, Baltazar (I) Born circa. 1550, died 1622, Wilno (Vilnius) Lithuania, Worked Warsaw Poland. Appointed to the royal court of King Zygmunt III (1587-1632). Not widely identified now, but according to historical records (Chapel of Radziwill, Warsaw, for example) an important and prolific early maker and founder of the family of violin makers in Wilno, Krakow, and Warsaw. Brescian appearance, and many have probably been relabelled as such. Long wide-set soundholes with small pointed wings; full arching. Outline tending toward an apex at top and bottom; shallow open middle bouts and small corners. Varnish thinly applied, dark golden colour. Instrument in the museum of Poznan with manuscript label: Baltazar DanKwart / we Wilnie Anno 1602 / Jego Krol. Mosci Sluga.