Ignaz Markert , Praha 1921

Ignaz Markert was born on 18. 7. 1891 in Schönbach (today Luby u Chebu), dies in 1974 in Bubenreuth, Germany. Between 1905-1908 learned at Karel Pötzl in Schönbach. As an apprentice worked 1908-1913 at Josef Kreuzinger. After return from the World War 1 he lived and worked in Prague, with short interruptions. His wife was employed in the company “Emanuel Klier” in Schönbach, where semi-finished instruments were produced. That certainly relates to the fact that many of his violins are made from these so called “boxes”.

Ignaz Markert mostly worked for other violin makers. Between 1930-1933 for K. J. Dvořák, 1933-1935 for F. K. Kříž but also for O. F. Špidlen and others. In 1937 he opened his own workshop in Prague in Jaromírova street. In 1946 he moved to České Budějovice to work for the company “Otakar Coufalík” and in 1956 definitely left Bohemia for Bubenreuth, Bavaria, Germany. His instruments are very precisely made and of excellent wood. He also was an exceptional restorer.

This violin came to me with a label Ladislav Herclík, Kolín, 1934. However, original signature inside on the belly disclosed the real author and year of manufacture. The violin was surely not made by Markert for Herclík because the date did not match. I also have no reference that Markert ever worked for Herclík. So I made a new faksimile label of Markert and replaced the faked Herclík’s one. As many others, the violin was made of pre-made parts. Nevertheless, it is a very good and well sounding instrument.