David TECCHLER

b. 1666. Lived first at Salzburg, then went to Venice, but owing to the ill-treatment he received from the makers there, left Venice and finally settled in Rome about 1705; he is said to have stopped at Cremona on his way there. Some of his work is very German in character, but instruments dated from Rome are generally of fine workmanship, and follow the Italian pattern very closely. His violoncellos are especially good ; made of excellent wood, on a large pattern, much arched, but the thicknesses are often inaccurate ; the sound-holes are large, they vary, sometimes being widely opened, sometimes not ; the varnish, of good quality, is generally reddish-yellow, sometimes yellow-brown in colour ; the tone is very powerful, the work beautifully finished ; one was sold at an auction for ;£50. His double-basses also show good work and have a sonorous tone. A violin of highly finished workmanship was made of beautiful wood and had a very pure and sweet tone. Labels : " David Tecchler Liutaro fecit Romae, anno 1703," a similar one is dated 1706: "David Tecchler fecit Romae, 1733." and " David Techler fecit, an. Dni. 1743, aetatis suae, 77."