Jacob Steininger

History

Jacob Steininger (1751-1823) was born in 1751 in Lechbruck bei Füssen, Germany, according to John Dilworth. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff suggests he appears to originate from the region of Füssen and may have been the son of a father with the same name. Sources contain conflicting information regarding his death date; John Dilworth states he died in 1823 in Aschaffenburg, while Lütgendorff notes he was still living in Aschaffenburg in 1818. He was the son-in-law and pupil of N. Dopfer. After 1775, he was active in Mainz, presumably arriving from Passau, where Dopfer served as court luthier from 1756 to 1788. Steininger succeeded to this appointment in 1788. Around 1790, he was resident in Frankfurt am Main, though Cecie Stainer places him in Frankfurt about 1775. The family left Mainz in 1792 due to the revolutionary wars, staying briefly in Frankfurt before settling in Aschaffenburg around 1800, following an honorable call, with the court of Frederick, Elector of Saxony. In Aschaffenburg, his sons Franz, Johannes, and Nicolaus, along with Nicolaus Diehl, joined his family workshop. His wife, Katharine, is said to have outlived him.

Craft

• Work Variability: Jacob Steininger's work is noted by John Dilworth as being very variable.
• Mainz Model Characteristics: The characteristic Mainz model features full broad arching, a good strong Stradivarian outline, and small outward pointing corners.
• Soundholes: Soundholes tend to be upright and widely-spaced, with a cramped upper half, a small upper circle, and a short narrow wing, but with a large and prominent lower circle. On later work, these characteristic soundholes are cut more open and develop an inward slope at the upper end.
• Nicks: The nicks are cut broad, straight, and deep.
• Scrolls: Scrolls are neatly concentric but described as a little unrefined.
• Internal Work: Internal work is quite coarse, featuring small linings spliced (rather than morticed) into the corner blocks in typical German style.
• Poorest Work: The poorest work exhibits a very Germanic appearance of commercial production of the period, with exaggerated Staineresque scrolls and rather careless layout.
• Materials: Materials used are not often exceptional.
• Varnish: Varnish is typically a soft golden-orange or pale golden-brown.
• Known Instruments: Edward Speyer in England possesses a 7/4-violin by Steininger. A Viola d'amore from 1777, formerly in the Snoeck collection, is located in Berlin.
• Labels: Examples of his labels include "Jacobus Steininger / Churfurstl: Mayntzischer / Hof Lauten und Geigen- / macher, 1777", "Jakob Steininger, hofgeigen / macher in Aschaffenburg 1806", and "Jacobus Staininger / Chürfürtl / Snaimkilcher / Hoflautern und Geigen / macher 1780 no 127 [Michels]".

Influence

• Mentorship: Jacob Steininger was a pupil of N. Dopfer.
• Teaching: He gave instructions in violin-making to Nicholas Diehl, who was his nephew according to George Hart.

Legacy

• Family Continuity: His sons Franz, Johannes, and Nicolaus were also violin makers and joined his workshop in Aschaffenburg.
• Family Life: His wife, Katharine, is said to have outlived him.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: Jacob Steininger worked in Mainz from approximately 1775, briefly in Frankfurt, and settled in Aschaffenburg around 1800.
• Titles: He held the title of Churfurstl: Mayntzischer Hof Lauten und Geigen-macher (Electoral Mainz Court Lute and Violin Maker) and later hofgeigenmacher in Aschaffenburg (Court Violin Maker in Aschaffenburg).

Summary

Jacob Steininger (1751-1823) was a German violin maker born in Lechbruck bei Füssen. He was a pupil and son-in-law of N. Dopfer, whom he succeeded as court luthier in Mainz in 1788. Due to revolutionary wars, he moved his workshop, eventually settling in Aschaffenburg around 1800, where his sons Franz, Johannes, and Nicolaus joined him. Steininger's work is characterized by a variable quality, with a distinctive Mainz model featuring broad arching and Stradivarian outlines, and specific soundhole designs. He also taught violin-making to Nicholas Diehl. Sources contain conflicting information regarding his death date and specific periods of residence in Frankfurt.