Janos Toth
Budapest, 1875–1944
Janos Toth (1875-1944) was an influential Hungarian violin maker, known for his controversial views on the superiority of well-made modern violins over older instruments. He published several instructional works on violin making. His craftsmanship featured classical models, often copies of Guarneri, with neatly finished willow interiors, accurate purfling of various materials, and amber resin varnish. He also developed a unique construction method involving under-edging. Toth received awards in Budapest and Rome, and his business was continued by his second wife, Ilona Martá.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
19 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viola | Labelled Joannes Toth Fecit propria manu Anno 1942 N° 11, inscribed internally on the table and back Lot 96 | Ingles & H. | January 2024 | £4,200est. £ 3,500-5,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joannes Tóth fecit propria manu Budapestini Anno 1933, Op. 135. Quamquam novus sum ... Lot 13 | Ingles & Hayday | June 2021 | £3,360est. £ 3,000-5,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joannes Tóth fecit propria mana Budapestini Anno 1933, Op. 137 Lot 12 | Ingles & Hayday | October 2017 | £3,840est. £ 1,800-2,500 |
| Viola | Bearing the maker's label and signature Lot 362 | Vichy | June 2017 | £2,401est. € 2.000-3.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the original label Toth Janos es Tezi, Budapest (Hongrie) Kossuth Lajos vica 10 Lot 76 | Brompton’s | March 2015 | £1,920est. £ 1,000-1,500 |
| Viola | Bearing the original label Lot 159 | Brompton’s | December 2014 | £168est. £ 500-800 |
| Violin | Two-piece back of medium curl, ribs and head similar, table of medium grain, varnish of an orange colour Lot 17 | Dorotheum | June 2013 | £8,489est. € 14.000-16.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joannes Toth, Budapestini, Anno 1943, No. 181 Lot 274 | Tarisio | December 2012 | £2,232est. $ 2,000-3,000 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Budapest, Mid-20th C. Workshop of | — | January 2010 | £1,807 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Budapest, 1940 c. | — | January 2009 | £1,208 |
| Violin | Budapest, 1943 | — | January 2005 | £2,293 |
| Violin | Budapest, 1926 | — | January 2005 | £3,421 |
| Violin | Budapest,1926 op 98 | — | January 2004 | £1,323 |
| Violin | Budapest, 1943 | — | January 2004 | £2,386 |
| Violin | Budapest, 1934 | — | January 2004 | £1,544 |
| Violin | 1933 | — | January 2002 | £2,232 |
| Violin | 1938 | — | January 1996 | £1,812 |
| Violin | 1924 | — | January 1988 | £1,320 |
| Violin | 19-- and "Teresia Toth" | — | January 1983 | £385 |
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Maker Overview
Life
Janos Toth (1875-1944) was a very influential Hungarian maker, born in Magyarkanizsa and died in Budapest, Hungary. He was the son of a cabinet maker. Tóth was a pupil of J. Braun in Szeged and Lutz in Vienna, and also gained brief experiences in London and Paris. He married in Debrecen and established himself for a short time in Szolnok, before finally settling in Budapest from 1910, at 8 Kossuth Lajos Street. After being widowed, he remarried; his second wife, Ilona Martá, succeeded to the business in 1944. Tóth was known as a very controversial and opinionated maker, who judged a well-made modern violin to be superior to a violin older than one hundred years. He published several instructional works including The Violin (Budapest, 1919), The problems of the Modern and Old Italian Violins (Budapest, 1926), Did Stradivari have Secrets?, The Problems of Making Concert Violins, and The Art of Violin Making.
Characteristics
- Models
- Tóth utilized classical models, most often copies of Guarneri on a large form, consistently demonstrating excellent craftsmanship.
- Interior Work
- The interior of his instruments was neatly finished in willow, with the linings spliced rather than morticed to the blocks.
- Purfling
- His purfling was made of various materials, including whalebone and ebony, and was very accurately cut.
- Varnish
- The varnish ranged from orange to red, and according to his own writings, was of an amber resin base. Guarneri models usually featured darker brown colors.
- Construction Method
- Tóth devised a unique way of fastening the plates to the bench while being worked, which resulted in four small pieces of under-edging being placed either side of the upper and lower block position on both plates; these are usually easily detectable.
- Signatures
- Some instruments were signed internally, for example: "Joannes Tóth / fecit propria manu / anno 1921 Budapestini Op.70. / Quamquam novus sum, dulcius tamen cano / quolibet antique Straiduario Johannes Tóth / ad formam Ant. Stradivári / Budapestini anno 1927 [Benedek]".
- Joannes Tóth
fecit propria manu
anno 1921John Dilworth - Budapestini Op.70.
Quamquam novus sum, dulcius tamen cano
quolibet antique Straiduario Johannes Tóth
ad formam Ant. Stradivári
Budapestini anno 1927John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Teachers: He was a pupil of J. Braun in Szeged and Lutz in Vienna.
- Experiences: Tóth also gained brief experiences in London and Paris.
- Awards: He was awarded prizes in Budapest in 1922 and Rome in 1931.
- Succession: His second wife, Ilona Martá, succeeded to his business in 1944.
Further Information
- Workshop Location: From 1910, his workshop was located at 8 Kossuth Lajos Street in Budapest.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
TÓTH, János Born 1875 Magyarkanizsa, died 1944 Budapest Hungary. Very influential Hungarian maker. Son of a cabinet maker. Pupil of J. Braun in Szeged and Lutz in Vienna. Brief experiences in London and Paris also. Married in Debrecen and established for a short time in Szolnok, finally settled in Budapest from 1910, at 8 Kossuth Lajos Street. Widowed and remarried; his second wife Ilona Martá (above) succeeded to the business 1944. Prizes awarded in Budapest 1922 and Rome 1931. A very controversial and opinionated maker, he judged a well-made modern violin to be superior to a violin older than one hundred years. Published several instructional works: The Violin (Budapest, 1919), The problems of the Modern and Old Italian Violins (Budapest, 1926), Did Stradivari have Secrets?, The Problems of Making Concert Violins and The Art of Violin Making. Classical models, most often copies of Guarneri on a large form, showing excellent craftsmanship. Interior neatly finished in willow, with the linings spliced rather than morticed to the blocks. Purfling of various materials including whalebone and ebony; very accurately cut. Orange to red varnish, of amber resin base according to his own writings. Guarneri models usually with darker brown colours. Tóth devised a unique way of fastening the plates to the bench while being worked, and this results in four small pieces of under-edging being placed either side of the upper and lower block position on both plates. These are usually easily detectable. Some instruments signed internally. Joannes Tóth / fecit propria manu / anno 1921 Budapestini Op.70. / Quamquam novus sum, dulcius tamen cano / quolibet antique Straiduario Johannes Tóth / ad formam Ant. Stradivári / Budapestini anno 1927 [Benedek]
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