Otakar Frantisek Spidlen
Violin maker
(1896 – 1958)
Otakar Frantisek Spidlen was the son, pupil, and successor of Frantisek Spidlen. He devoted most of his time to managing the shop and performing fine restoration and repair work as a very refined and successful maker. His total output was approximately 150 instruments, and he was justly esteemed and supported by the finest soloists of his era. His best and most prolific period occurred around 1925 to 1930. He exclusively used Stradivari and Guarneri models, applying an imported commercial varnish of orange-red hue. He was influenced by his cousin J. Vitachek in employing various methods to acoustically tune the plates of the violin. In 1936, he made one violin in honor of Tomas Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia, which featured the state emblem painted on the back along with the initials 'T. G. M. '.
Price History
- The auction record for this maker is $10,800 in Mar 2023, for a violin.
- 5 auction price results.
View all auction prices for Otakar Frantisek Spidlen
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