Violin by a member of the Ficker family, Markneukirchen, c. 1800
This violin has now sold.
About the Ficker family
The Ficker family were an ever-present fixture of violin making in Markneukirchen. We know of at least 20 members, starting with Johann Christian I around 1690. The last of Ficker violin makers died in 1942: an incredible legacy!
By 1800, there were 6 members working in Markneukirchen at the same time. In common with most German makers of the period, the violins were usually left unlabelled or given historical labels instead. This means that it is not possible to identify definitively the exact family member who made this violin.
About the violin
The violin was made around 1800 in Markneukirchen. Although the town became famous for its excellent workshops, this instrument is an example of a hand-made violin by an individual maker. The model is inspired by the instruments of Jacob Stainer.
The violin has a one piece back of figured maple of slightly irregular flame. The front is two pieces of medium-grained spruce. The varnish is dark chocolate-brown in colour and the length of back is 358 mm.
How does it sound?
The violin has a sophisticated, rich tone which carries very well. It feels joyfully energetic to play and provides lots of interest in terms of colour and dynamic range. Unusually, the middle two strings are my favourite: although the outer strings perform fantastically, the quality of sound in the inner strings makes everything sound great on this instrument. Great fun to play!
Condition
The violin is in good restored condition. It is branded I.C.F. to the inner back, making it most likely that this violin was made by Johann Christian Ficker III, the finest of the 6 makers working around this date.