Instrument Type: Violin
Circa: 1914
Asking Price: SOLD
Maker: Fritz Pulpaneck
The Violin
This Fritz Pulpaneck violin dates from around 1914, a few years after the maker settled in Los Angeles. It shows his skill at working from the great Italian models. Pulpaneck built his name on copies of Stradivari and Guarneri patterns.
Above all, the instrument has an exceptionally big, full tone. That size of sound fills a room without forcing. The back measures 36.2 cm.
That back length sits on the generous side for a violin. As a result, the instrument offers a broad frame for its large voice. It also documents an early chapter of violin making in Los Angeles.
For a player, a Fritz Pulpaneck violin offers power first. It suits a performer who needs a sound that carries in a hall. Also, a collector of early Los Angeles makers would find this violin by Fritz Pulpaneck rewarding. In short, it pairs a classic Italian outline with a bold voice.
The Maker
Born in Prussia in 1878, Fritz Pulpaneck carried European craft to a new home. In 1911 he settled in Los Angeles. At that time the city stood far from the old centers of violin making.
Pulpaneck excelled at reproducing the models of Stradivari and Guarneri. Those two Cremonese masters set the standard for violin form. So a maker who copied them well had to master outline, arching and proportion.
Today, a violin by Fritz Pulpaneck shows how that skill traveled west. His work joins Old World models with a new American setting. In addition, this example from about 1914 captures him only a few years after his arrival.
Terms of Sale
This violin has sold, so it is no longer available for purchase. Benning Violins invites you to browse our current catalog of fine instruments. You can also contact us directly to ask about similar pieces.