Anton (II) Sprenger

History

Anton (II) SPRENGER (1833-1900) was born in Mittenwald, with sources providing conflicting birth years of 1833 and 1834. He died in 1900 in Stuttgart, Germany. Sprenger established himself independently in Biberach before moving to Ulm, and then relocated his business to Stuttgart in 1870, where he took over the business of M. Maur. He was later appointed luthier to the court. Anton (II) Sprenger retired in 1897, and his son, Adolf Sprenger, succeeded him in the business.

Craft

• Models: Anton (II) Sprenger primarily focused on constructing new violins and cellos based on Stradivari and Guarneri patterns.
• Varnish: He utilized both oil and spirit varnishes, with a noted golden-red tint. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also mentions the use of amber varnish.
• Workmanship: His instruments were accurately made and praised for their noble tone and clean workmanship.
• Innovations: Sprenger developed several innovations, including an internal adjustable longitudinal supporting tube, though this was ultimately unsuccessful. He also invented the well-known Tonschraube (sound screw), which consists of a sound post running through the instrument from the neck to the scroll, artificially increasing the natural tension of the strings. This device was intended to distribute vibrations more evenly throughout the instrument's body and significantly improve poor, tonally weak instruments. Furthermore, Sprenger invented the so-called Paganini-Kinnhalter (Paganini chinrest) and worked on producing strings that were perfect in fifths (quintenreine Saiten).

Influence

• Teachers: Sources contain conflicting information regarding his early training. John Dilworth states he was a pupil of G. Tiefenbrunner. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also identifies him as a student of Gg. Tiefenbrunner. Cecie Stainer, however, notes he was a pupil of Anton Hornsteiner in Mittenwald and later worked under Tiefenbrunner of Munich, as well as Kindl and Fischer in Vienna.
• Further Training: For additional training, he traveled to Augsburg, Passau, Linz, and Vienna.

Legacy

• Succession: His son, Adolf Sprenger, succeeded him in the business in 1897.
• Recognition: Anton (II) Sprenger received numerous exhibition medals and honorary diplomas.
• Museum Holdings: A violin made by him in 1881 is preserved in the Museum of Cologne.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: He was initially independent in Biberach, then moved to Ulm, and established his business in Stuttgart in 1870. Cecie Stainer specifies his Stuttgart address as 23, Hospitalstrasse.
• Labeling: A violin in the Museum of Cologne bears the label: "Anton Sprenger / fecit Stuttgart, anno 1881".

Summary

Anton (II) Sprenger (1833-1900) was a notable luthier born in Mittenwald, who established his workshop in Stuttgart in 1870 and was later appointed luthier to the court. He was recognized for his accurately made violins and cellos, often based on Stradivari and Guarneri patterns, and praised for their noble tone. Sprenger utilized both oil and spirit varnishes, including amber, with a distinctive golden-red tint. He was an innovator, credited with the invention of the Tonschraube (sound screw) and the Paganini-Kinnhalter (Paganini chinrest), and also worked on producing quintenreine Saiten (strings perfect in fifths). His training involved various masters, including G. Tiefenbrunner and Anton Hornsteiner, and he undertook further studies across Europe. His legacy includes numerous exhibition medals, honorary diplomas, and a violin preserved in the Museum of Cologne. His son, Adolf Sprenger, continued his business after his retirement in 1897.