Thomas Zach

History

Thomas Zach (1812-1892) was born in 1812 in Malé Zínany, Czech Republic, and passed away in 1892 in Vienna, Austria. According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, he was originally a miller's apprentice and only began learning violin making later in life. He trained with J. B. Dvorak and A. Sitt in Prague. He then moved to Budapest, where he worked for many years with J. B. Schweitzer, eventually succeeding him in his business in 1857. Lütgendorff notes that his natural talent and serious dedication allowed him to mature into a particularly capable master. After leading his workshop for 15 years, he sold the business to J. Schunda in 1862 and, for a period, started a coffee house, an activity that ultimately did not satisfy him. He subsequently moved to Subotica, Croatia, in 1863, then to Pécs, Hungary, in 1864, and Bucharest, Romania, in 1865. In Bucharest, he was appointed luthier to Prince Sturdza, supplying the court with a significant number of instruments. In 1869, he made his final move to Vienna, where he quickly established a very high reputation and employed several assistants, including A. Ferenczy, B. Szepessy, E. Bartek, and P. Pilat. Sources contain conflicting information regarding his birth year, with John Dilworth stating 1812, while one of his labels from 1886 indicates 'geBorn 1829'.

Craft

• Workmanship: Thomas Zach produced very sophisticated work, primarily on Stradivari and Guarneri models.
• Varnish: His instruments feature a clear, transparent golden-brown to dark red-brown shaded varnish, noted for its rich texture and consistency.
• Innovation: At the Vienna World Exhibition in 1873, he received the Progress Medal for a string quartet modeled after Guarneri. Lütgendorff describes an innovation on his tailpieces, where strings were guided through four tubes corresponding to their position and fastened by knotting, intended to regularize vibration. Lütgendorff also notes that something similar had been attempted by Spohr.

Influence

• Training: Thomas Zach received his training in violin making from J. B. Dvorak and A. Sitt in Prague.
• Mentorship: He worked for many years under J. B. Schweitzer in Budapest, eventually taking over his business.

Legacy

• Awards: In 1873, he was awarded the first prize for a quartet of instruments of Guarneri modelling, and at the Vienna World Exhibition in the same year, he received the Progress Medal for a Guarneri-modeled string quartet, which was declared the best.
• Reputation: After settling in Vienna in 1869, he developed and sustained a very high reputation, quickly gaining renown and prestige.

Further Information

• Assistants: In Vienna, Thomas Zach employed several assistants, including A. Ferenczy, B. Szepessy, E. Bartek, and P. Pilat.
• Family: He was married to Marie Swoboda from Plánic.
• Labels: Examples of his labels include "Thomas Zach / Magini fecit Pestini 1858", "Thomas Zach fecit / ad for A.S. Viennae 1869", and "Thomas Zach k.k. priv. / Geigenmacher geBorn 1829 T Z / Gemach in Wien 1886".

Summary

Thomas Zach (1812-1892) was a highly regarded luthier born in Malé Zínany, Czech Republic, who trained in Prague with J. B. Dvorak and A. Sitt. He established his career in Budapest, succeeding J. B. Schweitzer's business, before moving through Subotica, Pécs, and Bucharest, where he served as luthier to Prince Sturdza. He ultimately settled in Vienna in 1869, building a strong reputation for his sophisticated instruments, particularly those modeled after Stradivari and Guarneri. Zach was recognized with a first prize and the Progress Medal in 1873 for a Guarneri-modeled string quartet and was known for his distinctive golden-brown to dark red-brown varnish and an innovative tailpiece design.