Dietrich Kessler

Maker Overview

History

Dietrich Kessler (1929-2006) was born in 1929 in Zurich, Switzerland, and passed away in 2006 in London, UK. He received his training at the Swiss Violin Making School at Brienz under Adolf König. Kessler worked for Arnold Dolmetsch Ltd. in Haslemere, UK, before moving to Albert Arnold Ltd. in Charing Cross Road, where he worked with Cyril Jacklin until that business closed in 1955. From 1955 to 1969, he worked freelance for the Withers shop in Wardour Street, London, eventually succeeding Stanley Withers upon his retirement. In 1987, he sold the shop, which continued to operate under the Withers name with Adam Whone, and subsequently worked from his home in North London. From an early period, he specialized in viol making, notably building a commemorative viol for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Craft

Specialization: Dietrich Kessler specialized in viol making from an early period.
Notable Works: He built a commemorative viol for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
Production: At the Withers shop, he maintained the production of viols of all forms and sizes.
Research & Innovation: He developed a particular interest in the then underestimated 17th-century English school of viol making. Kessler was the first to distinguish and describe the 17th-century English manner of building, which involved using several staves of bent wood to fashion the arched front of the viol. He successfully adopted this technique in his own work.
Labeling: Instruments made between 1969 and 1987 bear the Withers label. Examples of his labels include "Dietrich M Kessler of Zurich No.6 / London 1953 Dietrich M. Kessler" and "No. 250 1993".

Influence

Training: Dietrich Kessler trained at the Swiss Violin Making School at Brienz under Adolf König.
Professional Experience: He worked for Arnold Dolmetsch Ltd. in Haslemere, UK. He also worked for Albert Arnold Ltd. in Charing Cross Road alongside Cyril Jacklin. Later, he worked freelance for the Withers shop in Wardour Street, London, eventually succeeding Stanley Withers.

Legacy

Collection: Dietrich Kessler acquired a fine collection of viols, which still bears his name and is now housed in the Royal College of Music, London.

Further Information

Locations: His professional activities spanned Zurich, Switzerland; Haslemere, UK; and various locations in London, UK, including Charing Cross Road, Wardour Street, and his home in North London.
Labels: Specific labels include "Dietrich M Kessler of Zurich No.6 / London 1953 Dietrich M. Kessler" and "No. 250 1993". Instruments made between 1969 and 1987 carried the Withers label.

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Biographies

John Dilworth

KESSLER, Dietrich Born 1929 Zurich Switzerland, d.2006 London UK. Trained at the Swiss Violin Making School at Brienz under Adolf König. Worked for Arnold Dolmetsch Ltd. in Haslemere, UK, later moving to Albert Arnold Ltd. in Charing Cross Road with Cyril Jacklin until that business closed in 1955. From 1955 to 1969 he worked freelance for the Withers shop in Wardour Street, London, succeeding to Stanley Withers on his retirement. In 1987 he sold the shop (which continued with the Withers name under Adam Whone) and worked from his home in North London. From an early period specialised in viol making, building a commemorative viol for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II 1953. At Withers kept up production of viols of all forms and sizes, developing a particular interest in the then underestimated English school and acquiring a fine collection which still bears his name (now in the Royal College of Music, London). He was the first to distinguish and describe the 17th century English manner of building, using several staves of bent wood to fashion the arched front of the viol; a technique he subsequently adopted very successfully in his own work. Instruments made 1969-1987 bear the Withers label. Dietrich M Kessler of Zurich No.6 / London 1953 Dietrich M. Kessler / No. 250 1993