Anders Christiansen Kleven

History

Anders Christiansen Kleven (1855-after 1910) was born in 1855. According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, he made a violin at the age of eight, which led to his apprenticeship with a cabinet and model maker. He later received some instruction from Peterson in Chicago. After a three-year stay in Chicago, he returned to his homeland and settled in Christiania (now Oslo) in 1878 as a carpenter. In 1890, he gave up this profession to dedicate himself exclusively to violin making. John Dilworth notes that he was an active luthier from approximately 1890 in Oslo, Norway, and died after 1910.

Craft

• Models: He crafted Stradivari models and worked in the Vuillaume style. He also developed his own elongated model.
• Varnish: He used a transparent golden-yellow spirit varnish, which Willibald Leo Lütgendorff describes as a light yellow-brown spirit varnish of his own invention.
• Output: Sources contain conflicting information regarding the number of instruments completed; John Dilworth states approximately 150 instruments, while Willibald Leo Lütgendorff indicates he had made about 100 violins and performed over 1200 repairs.
• Hardanger Violins: He made notable improvements to the so-called Hardanger violins, extending the strings from 29 cm to 32 cm and adding four new sympathetic strings.

Influence

• Mentorship: He received some instruction from Peterson in Chicago.

Legacy

• Awards: He was awarded prizes in Bergen in 1878 (Gold), Stockholm in 1897 (Diplom), and Paris in 1900 (Bronze).
• Exhibitions: In Paris in 1900, he was represented by a fine quartet of instruments.

Further Information

• Workshop Location: He was active in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway.
• Label Inscription: His labels included "Stockholm 1897 Diplom / Paris 1900 Bronce / Bergen 1878 Guld / A. C. Kleven / Violinmager / Kristiania".