Frantisek Spidlen

Violin maker
(1867 – 1916)

Worked for Metelka and Vitacaek in Prague. Established independently in Kiev, Ukraine from 1894, where he was briefly, assisted by his nephew J. Vitachek. Succeeded E. A. Salzard in Moscow as luthier to the imperial court, opera house and conservatoire from 1897. Refined his techniques as a maker there through his experience with classical instruments in his care, developing his originally basic and ...Read More slightly unorthodox Bohemian models into fully refined and sophisticated work. Won medals in Frankfurt, Prague 1895, Kiev 1897, Paris 1900, St Petersburg 1906, and Lille 1909. Returned to Bohemia 1907, and following the death of K. B. Dvorak (the dominant luthier in Prague) in 1909, established himself on Krizovnicka Street, Prague. Generally worked to Stradivari and Guarneri models. Fine materials and deeply coloured varnish; said to have been a commercial formula. About 400 violins completed. Read Less

Price History

- The auction record for this maker is $12,474 in Jul 1993, for a violin.
- 6 auction price results.

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Spidlen family tree

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