Louis Lowenthal
Berlin, Dresden, b. 1836
Louis Lowenthal (1836-?) was a German violin and bow maker who established a significant business in the late 19th century. Trained by Bausch and Heinrich Knopf, he founded his own enterprise, expanding into an American branch where he anglicized his name to Lowendall. He was known for following Stradivari models, producing a celebrated copy of Ole Bull's del Gesù violin, and for his innovative patented 'resonator bar' devised in 1900. His work was recognized with silver medals at exhibitions in London and Bologna.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
75 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Lot 111 | Bonhams | August 2026 | £1,000 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm 1884 c. | — | January 2011 | £960 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm | — | January 2011 | £780 |
| Violin | 33.8 cm 1880 c. Child's size | — | January 2011 | £406 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Berlin, 1910 c. | — | January 2011 | £702 |
| Violin | 33.6 cm Berlin, 1920 c. Child's size | — | January 2011 | £332 |
| Violin | 28.1 cm 1890 c. Child's size Probably by | — | January 2011 | £591 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm | — | January 2011 | £504 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm 1890 Workshop of | — | January 2011 | £1,616 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm 1890 c. Probably by | — | January 2011 | £720 |
| Violin | 33.3 cm 1890 c. | — | January 2010 | £120 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Dresden, 1890 c. | — | January 2010 | £840 |
| Violin | 36.3 cm Dresden, 1883 | — | January 2010 | £504 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Berlin, 1870 Firm of | — | January 2010 | £836 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm 1891 | — | January 2010 | £1,440 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm Berlin, 1914 | — | January 2010 | £770 |
| Violin | 34.0 cm 1900 c. | — | January 2009 | £216 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Dresden, 1880 c. | — | January 2009 | £900 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Berlin, 1930 c. Firm of | — | January 2009 | £957 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Berlin, 1890 c. | — | January 2009 | £720 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Berlin, 1895 | — | January 2009 | £576 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm 1890 c. (restorations) | — | January 2009 | £408 |
| Violin | 33.2 cm 3/4 size | — | January 2009 | £184 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm 1890 c. (restorations) | — | January 2009 | £420 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm 1900 c. decorated back and scroll | — | January 2009 | £840 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Dresden, 1920 c. | — | January 2009 | £231 |
| Violin | 36.3 cm Berlin, 1905 Firm of | — | January 2009 | £695 |
| Violin | 36.3 cm Berlin, 1902 Firm of | — | January 2008 | £454 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm early 20th C. Firm of | — | January 2008 | £568 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Berlin, 1910 c. | — | January 2008 | £383 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Dresedn, 1879 | — | January 2008 | £1,037 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Berlin, 1904 Workshop | — | January 2008 | £361 |
| Violin | 33.9 cm Berlin 3/4 Size | — | January 2007 | £948 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Dresden, late 19th C. | — | January 2007 | £423 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm | — | January 2007 | £518 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm 1900 c. | — | January 2007 | £300 |
| Violin | 26.7 cm 1920 c. Made for "Sears Roebuck & Co." | — | January 2007 | £1,080 |
| Violin | 33.9 cm 3/4 Size | — | January 2006 | £1,061 |
| Violin | 1880 c. Firm of | — | January 2006 | £265 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Dresden, 1884 | — | January 2006 | £530 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm Berlin, 1901 | — | January 2006 | £563 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Berlin, 1904 | — | January 2006 | £563 |
| Violin | Berlin, 1893 | — | January 2005 | £246 |
| Violin | Dresedn, 1900 c. | — | January 2005 | £576 |
| Violin | 1900 c. "Artist Violin Stradivarius" | — | January 2005 | £384 |
| Violin | Dresden. Medallion - back of the head | — | January 2004 | £1,272 |
| Violin | Dresden, 1884 | — | January 2004 | £717 |
| Violin | Dresden, 1885 | — | January 2004 | £836 |
| Violin | 1884 | — | January 2003 | £624 |
| Violin | 1895 | — | January 2001 | £750 |
| Violin | 1900 c. | — | January 2000 | £218 |
| Violin | 1883 | — | January 2000 | £667 |
| Violin | 1886 | — | January 2000 | £667 |
| Violin | 1880 c. | — | January 2000 | £460 |
| Violin | 1924 | — | January 1999 | £575 |
| Violin | 1893 | — | January 1998 | £575 |
| Violin | 1883 | — | January 1998 | £391 |
| Violin | 1891 | — | January 1998 | £460 |
| Cello | 1894 | — | January 1998 | £920 |
| Violin | 1894 | — | January 1998 | £472 |
| Violin | 1883 | — | January 1997 | £713 |
| Cello | 1900 c. | — | January 1997 | £3,450 |
| Violin | 1879 | — | January 1997 | £230 |
| Cello | 1900 c. | — | January 1997 | £2,400 |
| Violin | 1884 | — | January 1997 | £300 |
| Viola | 38.4 cm 1890 c. | — | January 1995 | £897 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 54 g. | — | January 1992 | £286 |
| Cello | 1900 c. | — | January 1992 | £968 |
| Cello | 1874 | — | January 1992 | £1,760 |
| Cello | 1899 | — | January 1990 | £2,420 |
| Cello | 1890 c. | — | January 1988 | £935 |
| Violin | 1880 c. 1/4 Size | — | January 1988 | £308 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 55 g. | — | January 1987 | £176 |
| Cello | 1893 | — | January 1987 | £2,970 |
| Viola | 39.4 cm 1883 | — | January 1987 | £396 |
No results match those filters.
Maker Overview
Life
Louis Lowenthal (1836-?) began his career working from 1855 in Berlin, Germany, having learned the cello as a child.'s The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers, he founded his own business in 1855, manufacturing on a large scale. He expanded into an American branch in 1867, where he anglicized his name from Lowenthall to Lowendall. He also began a trade in antique instruments and tonewood. He returned to Dresden in 1873, regularly visiting the USA and London thereafter. From 1889, his company occupied a large building in Reichenberger Strasse, Berlin. However, Willibald Leo Lütgendorff's Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart states that the business enterprise was founded in Dresden in 1866 by L. Löwenthal, a merchant, and that his son later joined as a partner. Lütgendorff notes that Lowenthal primarily worked for overseas export, employing a number of highly skilled assistants, from whose workshop instruments of real artistic value emerged.
Characteristics
- Training
- Louis Lowenthal was taught violin and bow making by Bausch in Leipzig and Heinrich Knopf in Berlin.
- Models
- He made a celebrated copy of Ole Bull's del Gesù violin of 1744 and generally followed Stradivari models.
- Aesthetics
- His instruments were beautifully and accurately worked, featuring a fine golden-red varnish.
- Innovation
- He devised and patented an internal 'resonator bar' in 1900. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff further details this invention, noting that Lowenthal described it in a publication titled 'Fachmännische Erläuterungen über den von mir erfundenen Resonator-Violin-Stimmbalken für Streichinstrumte' (Berlin 1900, Selbstverlag, 17 S. in 8°).
- Branding
- Instruments were branded internally with 'L. Lowendahl 1880 / Dresden'., his label with the name Lowendall (which he adopted in America) is found only in instruments of real artistic value produced by his skilled assistants.
- Branded internally: ‘L. Lowendahl 1880
Dresden’John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Teachers: Louis Lowenthal was taught violin and bow making by Bausch in Leipzig and Heinrich Knopf in Berlin.
- Awards: He was awarded silver medals at the London Inventions Exhibition and at Bologna.
Further Information
- Workshop Locations: Louis Lowenthal's business operated from Berlin and Dresden, with an American branch established in 1867.
- Specific Address: From 1889, the company occupied a large building in Reichenberger Strasse, Berlin.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
LÖWENTHAL (LOWENDALL, LOWENDAHL), Louis Born 1836, Worked from 1855 Berlin Germany. Learned the cello as a child. Taught violin and bow making by Bausch in Leipzig and Heinrich Knopf in Berlin. Founded his own business 1855, manufacturing on a large scale and expanding into an American branch in 1867. There he anglicised his name from Lowenthall to Lowendall. Began a trade in antique instruments and tone wood and returned to Dresden 1873, visiting the USA and London regularly thereafter. From 1889 the company occupied a large building in Reichenberger Strasse, Berlin. Made a celebrated copy of Ole Bull’s del Gesù violin of 1744. Generally followed Stradivari models. Beautifully and accurately worked, with fine golden-red varnish. Devised and patented an internal ‘resonator bar’ 1900. Awarded silver medals at the London Inventions Exhibition and at Bologna. Branded internally: ‘L. Lowendahl 1880 / Dresden’
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Im Jahre 1866 in Dresden begründetes Geschäftsunternehmen des Kaufmanns
L. Löwenthal, dem jetzt auch der Sohn des Besitzers als Theilhaber angehört.
Er arbeitet hauptsächlich für den überseeischen Export, doch beschäftigte
er bereits eine Reihe hervorragend tüchtiger Gehilfen, so dass aus seiner Werkstatt
auch schon Instrumente von wirklichem Kunstwerthe hervorgegangen sind.
Nur in solchen findet sich sein Zettel mit dem Namen Lowendall (den er in
Amerika angenommen hat). Er hat einen Stimmbalken erfunden, den er in
einer kleinen Schrift unter dem Titel: »Fachmännische Erläuterungen über den von mir erfundenen Resonator-Violin-Stimmbalken für Streichinstrumte (Berlin 1900, Selbstverlag, 17 S. in 8°)« näher beschreibt.
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