Richard Weichold
Dresden, 1823–1902
Richard Weichold (1823-1902) was a German violin and bow maker, son of August Weichold and pupil of Pfretzschner. He established his workshop in Dresden, becoming a court luthier and producing a wide range of bowed and plucked instruments, as well as fine bows. He was known for his 1860 invention of a process for pure fifth strings and his experiments with wood aging and varnish. His business continued after his retirement, eventually leading to the establishment of the Weichold-Paulus-Stiftung at the Dresdener Conservatorium.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
124 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin Bow | Lot 223 | Bonhams | August 2026 | £875 |
| Violin Bow | Lot 158 | Brompton's | August 2026 | £708 |
| Violin Bow | Nickel mounted, signed, minor handle wear, otherwise good condition Lot 2149 | Laurent | January 2024 | £767est. £600 |
| Violin Bow | Nickel mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold à Dresda, also stamped Imitation de Tourte Lot 2240 | Gardiner | January 2024 | £976est. £ 800-1,200 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold à Dresde, ebony frog with pearl eye Lot 97 | Ingles & Hayday | October 2023 | £3,840est. £ 1,000-1,500 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, stamped R. Weischold ..., minus hair Lot 846 | Vichy | May 2023 | £1,215est. € 1.200-1.500 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold, Dresden and Imitation Tourte Lot 2213 | Gardiner Houlgate | September 2022 | £528est. £ 400-600 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, signed R. Weichold Dresden, French frog Lot 2094 | Vichy | May 2022 | £633est. € 400 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, signed R. Weichold Dresden Lot 599 | Vichy | December 2021 | £868est. € 800-1.000 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted Lot 2183 | Vichy | November 2021 | £1,321est. € 500 |
| Violin Bow | Round stick faintly stamped R. Weichold à Dresden Lot 2226 | Gardiner Houlgate | June 2021 | £793 |
| Viola Bow | Tubbs model, silver mounted, round stick stamped R. Weichold Dresden Lot 8 | Tarisio | March 2021 | £613est. $ 700-1,000 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, signed R. Weichold Dresden and RW, minus hair Lot 932 | Vichy | September 2020 | £1,432 |
| Violin Bow | Nickel mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold, Dresden, ebony frog with pearl eye Lot 2228 | Gardiner Houlgate | December 2019 | £216est. £ 200-250 |
| Cello Bow | Silver mounted, round stick stamped Weichold Dresden, ebony frog with pearl eye Lot 2219 | Gardiner Houlgate | September 2019 | £432est. £ 320-380 |
| Violin Bow | Nickel mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold, Dresden, ebony frog with pearl eye Lot 2254 | Gardiner Houlgate | September 2019 | £336est. £ 200-250 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R Weichold ... Dresden Lot 16 | Brompton’s | September 2019 | £72est. £ 100-200 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick, camber in need of significant attention Lot 18 | Brompton’s | September 2019 | £720est. £ 600-1,000 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold, light lapping Lot 50 | Tarisio | June 2019 | £413est. £ 500-800 |
| Violin Bow | Nickel mounted, octagonal stick stamped R Weichold Dresden, ebony frog with pearl eye Lot 2304 | Gardiner Houlgate | September 2018 | £576est. £ 300-500 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, round stick stamped R. Weichold, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver and ebony button Lot 1248 | Gardiner Houlgate | June 2018 | £504est. £ 300-500 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted Lot 2052 | Tennants | June 2018 | £720est. £ 500-800 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold Dresden Lot 158 | Brompton’s | June 2018 | £708est. £ 800-1,000 |
| Violin Bow | Nickel mounted, round stick stamped R. Weichold Dresden, no hair Lot 1 | Brompton’s | December 2017 | £408est. £ 200-300 |
| Violin Bow | Gold mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold Dresden, ebony frog with pearl eye Lot 84 | Ingles & Hayday | October 2017 | £2,640est. £ 1,500-2,500 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold, Dresden Lot 151 | Brompton’s | October 2017 | £1,080est. £ 1,000-1,500 |
| Cello Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold Dresden, ebony frog with pearl eye Lot 99 | Gardiner Houlgate | October 2017 | £936est. £ 600-800 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold Dresden, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver button Lot 104 | Gardiner Houlgate | October 2017 | £1,800est. £ 300-500 |
| Violin Bow | Violin Bow, 1890 c. Lot 242 | Brompton’s | June 2017 | £84est. £ 300-500 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick, frog thumb projection filed Lot 247 | Brompton’s | March 2017 | £840est. £ 500-800 |
| Cello Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold Dresden Lot 19 | Tarisio | October 2016 | £1,440est. £ 500-800 |
| Cello Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Weichold Dresden Lot 20 | Tarisio | October 2016 | £2,832est. £ 700-1,000 |
| Violin Bow | Nickel mounted, octagonal stick, frog frozen to handle, cloth lapping Lot 27 | Brompton’s | December 2015 | £84est. £ 200-300 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R Weichold A Dresde Lot 59 | Brompton’s | December 2015 | £780est. £ 600-1,000 |
| Violin Bow | Handle covered by leather lapping, stick good but possibly with shakes, frog and button good Lot 118 | Brompton’s | December 2015 | £60est. £ 300-500 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold a Dresden Lot 197 | Brompton’s | November 2015 | £720est. £ 800-1,200 |
| Cello Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold a Dresden and Imitation de Tourte on reverse Lot 261 | Brompton’s | June 2015 | £1,080est. £ 300-500 |
| Cello Bow | Nickel mounted, round stick stamped R. Weichold, Dresden, ebony frog with pearl eye Lot 778 | Gardiner Houlgate | December 2014 | £696est. £ 250-450 |
| Cello Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold Dresden Lot 42 | Brompton’s | October 2014 | £1,920est. £ 800-1,200 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold Dresden Lot 215 | Brompton’s | October 2014 | £456est. £ 200-300 |
| Violin Bow | From a private German collection, gold mounted, round stick stamped R. Weichold Dresden, ebony frog Lot 133 | Gardiner Houlgate | October 2013 | £1,450est. £ 800-1,200 |
| Cello Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold. Dresden Lot 204 | Brompton’s | October 2013 | £1,140est. £ 1,000-1,500 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold a Dresden and Imitation de Tourte Lot 79 | Tarisio | October 2013 | £2,242est. £ 1,200-1,800 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, unstamped, tortoiseshell frog Lot 142 | Tarisio | June 2013 | £2,127est. $ 1,000-1,500 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped R WEICHOLD A DRESD and IMITATION DE TOURTE Lot 145 | Skinners | April 2013 | £1,089est. $ 600-800 |
| Violin Bow | Nickel mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold, Dresden Lot 43 | Brompton’s | March 2013 | £900est. £ 500-800 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, round stick, no hair or lapping Lot 32 | Brompton’s | December 2012 | £360est. £ 500-700 |
| Violin Bow | Gold mounted, stamped R. Weichold Dresden Lot 68 | Tarisio | October 2012 | £1,140est. £ 600-900 |
| Violin Bow | Octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold Dresden Lot 217 | Brompton’s | October 2012 | £1,800est. £ 1,000-1,500 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, round stick stamped R. Weichold, Dresden, full hair Lot 223 | Bonhams | October 2012 | £875 |
| Violin Bow | Nickel mounted, octagonal stick stamped R. Weichold. Dresden, ebony frog with pearl eye Lot 337 | Gardiner Houlgate | June 2012 | £336est. £ 200-300 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped IMITATION DE TOURTE Lot 112 | Skinners | April 2012 | £312est. $ 400-600 |
| Violin Bow | N/E 59.5 g. stamped "Tourte" | — | January 2011 | £1,428 |
| Violin Bow | N/E 59 g. | — | January 2011 | £267 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60.0 g. without hair, also stamped "Imitation de Tourte" (frog & adjustor later) | — | January 2011 | £583 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 69.0 g. | — | January 2010 | £826 |
| Viola Bow | G/E 56.0 g. Workshop of | — | January 2010 | £946 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 56 g. Probably by | — | January 2010 | £1,761 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 55.0 g. Imitation de Tourte' | — | January 2010 | £904 |
| Violin Bow | N/E 56 g. | — | January 2010 | £960 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | January 2010 | £460 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58.5 g. also stamped "Imitation de Tourte" | — | January 2009 | £960 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 60.0 g. | — | January 2009 | £1,200 |
| Violin Bow | N/E 58 g. Dresden, 1880 c. | — | January 2009 | £600 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 56 g. | — | January 2009 | £552 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. Dresden, 1910 c. | — | January 2008 | £1,197 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 55 g. Dresden, 1890 c. | — | January 2008 | £860 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 64 g. | — | January 2008 | £522 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 52 g. without hair and silk winding | — | January 2007 | £1,106 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 81.0 g. | — | January 2007 | £1,085 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. also stamped "Imitation De Tourte" | — | January 2007 | £806 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 56 g. | — | January 2007 | £188 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. | — | January 2006 | £632 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57 g. | — | January 2006 | £538 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. | — | January 2005 | £553 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60.5 g. | — | January 2005 | £786 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. also stamped "Imitation de Tourte" | — | January 2005 | £536 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 55 g. | — | January 2005 | £593 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. also branded "Imitation de Tourte'" | — | January 2005 | £251 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 82.4 g. | — | January 2005 | £840 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58.0 g. | — | January 2005 | £558 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60.5 g. | — | January 2005 | £787 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 80 g. | — | January 2004 | £1,150 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. | — | January 2004 | £552 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59.5 g. | — | January 2004 | £700 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 60 g. | — | January 2004 | £956 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 51 g. without hair | — | January 2004 | £315 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 55 g. | — | January 2004 | £269 |
| Violin Bow | also stamped "Imitation de Tourte", very fine | — | January 2004 | £1,912 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 73 g. | — | January 2003 | £588 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 55 g. | — | January 2003 | £624 |
| Violin | 1899 | — | January 2002 | £4,140 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | January 2002 | £657 |
| Violin Bow | N/E 55 g. | — | January 2002 | £418 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 76 g. | — | January 2002 | £1,262 |
| Violin Bow | N/E 56 g. | — | January 2002 | £374 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57 g. | — | January 2002 | £763 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 64 g. | — | January 2002 | £400 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 62 g. | — | January 2001 | £2,553 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 80 g. | — | January 2001 | £862 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 56 g. | — | January 2001 | £885 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 74 g. | — | January 2001 | £963 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 63 g. | — | January 2001 | £900 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 60 g. | — | January 2000 | £634 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 54 g. | — | January 2000 | £560 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | January 2000 | £1,679 |
| Viola Bow | G/E 69 g. | — | January 1999 | £1,000 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | January 1999 | £550 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | January 1999 | £483 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. | — | January 1999 | £532 |
| Violin Bow | N/E 62 g. | — | January 1999 | £300 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 71 g. | — | January 1998 | £368 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | January 1998 | £517 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 76 g. | — | January 1997 | £255 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 76 g. | — | January 1996 | £437 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 83 g. | — | January 1994 | £552 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 80 g. | — | January 1994 | £209 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 83 g. | — | January 1993 | £418 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 67 g. | — | January 1992 | £748 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. 'Imitation Tourte' | — | January 1990 | £440 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. 'Imitation Tourte' | — | January 1990 | £880 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 69 g. | — | January 1989 | £660 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. 'Imitation Tourte' | — | January 1986 | £495 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 68 g. | — | January 1985 | £572 |
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Maker Overview
Life
Richard WEICHOLD (1823-1902) was the son of August Weichold and a pupil of Pfretzschner in Markneukirchen. After some years of travel (Wanderjahre), he established himself in Hamburg but moved back to Dresden after a year, where he married Christiane Engst from Dahlen., he quickly gained a wide clientele, becoming a supplier to the court theater and the Catholic church, and was granted the court title. John Dilworth notes that he enlarged his father's business. In 1881, due to increasing deafness, he sold his business to Liebhold Meyer, but continued to work and conduct many experiments. He retired completely from private life in the early 1890s. His marriage remained childless. John Dilworth states he died in 1902 in Dresden, Germany.
Characteristics
- Instrument Production
- Richard Weichold crafted all types of violins, as well as guitars and zithers.
- Bow Making
- He also made very good bows, with John Dilworth noting that many fine bows were produced in various grades.
- Innovation
- In 1860, he invented a new process for producing pure fifth strings (quintenreine Saiten).
- Experiments
- He experimented with artificially aging violin wood, though with less success, and also engaged with the varnish question.
- Richard Weichold (Paulus)
DresdenJohn Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Family Background: Richard Weichold was the son of August Weichold.
- Mentorship: He was a pupil of Pfretzschner in Markneukirchen.
- Business Continuity: Although Richard Weichold sold his business to Liebhold Meyer in 1881, the business continued and later passed to August Paulus, who became a court supplier in 1902.
- Philanthropy: August Paulus established the Weichold-Paulus-Stiftung at the Dresdener Conservatorium, annually donating a new violin from his workshop, valued at 350 M., for prize distribution starting from Easter 1899.
- Distribution: The firm also held the exclusive distribution rights for string instruments made. Stelzner's system.
Further Information
- Publications: Richard Weichold published articles in De Wit's Zeitschr., including "Ein neues Präparationsverfahren zum Altmachen von Tonhölzern" (1894, No. 33) concerning artificial aging of tonewoods, and "Zur Geigenlackfrage" (1894, No. 7) regarding the violin varnish question.
- Health: He experienced increasing deafness, which led to the sale of his business in 1881.
- Expertise: He was considered a skilled connoisseur of instruments.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
WEICHOLD, Richard Born 1823, died 1902 Dresden Germany. Violin and bow maker. Son of August Weichold, above. Pupil of Pfretzschner in Markneukirchen. Worked at Hamburg. Settled at Dresden. Appointed luthier to the court there. Enlarged his father’s business, but in 1881 passed the management of it to L. Meyer. Prolific maker of both plucked and bowed instruments. Many fine bows produced in various grades. Also developed string making techniques. Richard Weichold (Paulus) / Dresden
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Sohn von August W. Schüler von Pfretzschner in Markneukirchen. Nach einigen Wanderjahren machte er sich in Hamburg selbstständig, zog aber nach Jahresfrist von dort wieder fort, ging nach Dresden zurück und verheirathete sich mit Christiane Engst aus Dahlen. Er fand bald einen weiten Kundenkreis, wurde Lieferant des Hoftheaters, der katholischen Kirche etc. und bekam den Hoftitel. Er verfertigte alle Arten von Geigen, ferner Guitarren und Zithern und war ein gewiegter Kenner. 1860 erfand er ein neues Verfahren, um quintenreine Saiten herzustellen, und machte auch recht gute Bögen. Weniger Erfolg hatte er mit seinen Versuchen, das Geigenholz künstlich alt zu machen. (Vgl. seinen Aufsatz in De Wit’s Zeitschr. 1894. No. 33: »Ein neues Präparationsverfahren zum Altmachen von Tonhölzern.«) Wegen zunehmender Schwerhörigkeit verkaufte er 1881 sein Geschäft an Liebhold Meyer, arbeitete aber noch fort und stellte viele Versuche an; auch mit der Lackfrage beschäftigte er sich (vgl. »Zur Geigenlackfrage« De Wit’s Zeitschr. 1894. No. 7). Anfangs der neunziger Jahre zog er sich dann ganz in das Privatleben zurück. Seine Ehe war kinderlos geblieben, das Geschäft besteht jedoch noch fort und ist auf August Paulus übergegangen, der seit 1902 Hoflieferant ist. Paulus errichtete die Weichold-Paulus-Stiftung am Dresdener Conservatorium, indem er von Ostern 1899 an dieser Kunstanstalt jährlich eine aus seiner Werkstatt hervorgegangene neue Geige im Werthe von 350 M. zur Preisvertheilung schenkt. Die Firma hat auch den Alleinvertrieb der nach dem System Dr. Stelzner’s gemachten Streichinstrumente.
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