14 Facts About Jacob Stainer

Jacob Stainer's violins were sought after by famous 17th- and 18th-century musicians and composers including Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and George Simon-Lohein.

Jacob Stainer was born and died in Absam, in present-day Austria.

Jacob Stainer's designs influenced instrument construction in Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, parts of Italy, and several other countries.

Jacob Stainer's instruments were the most sought-after throughout Europe until the late 18th century, when changing performance conditions led musicians to seek a different sound.

Jacob Stainer's violins are comparatively rare today and few of his violas, cellos, and basses are known to exist.

Jacob Stainer was one of the most famous luthiers of his time in Europe before Stradivari, and the only non-Italian luthier to rank at the top of that artistic craft.

Until orchestral music replaced chamber music as the dominant form, Jacob Stainer's violins were more sought-after even than Stradivari's.

Jacob Stainer was born around 1618 in Absam; paternal ancestors were from South Tyrol and the father worked in the salt mines.

Jacob Stainer attended the school until 1630, probably learned Latin and spoke Italian.

Jacob Stainer was sent to Innsbruck to learn the art of organ building with Daniel Hertz, but not being inclined to the work was directed towards the construction of violins.

Jacob Stainer then completed an apprenticeship in joinery with a relative, Hanns Grafinger.

Jacob Stainer continued to produce outstanding instruments for court musicians and for the orchestra of the cathedrals of Innsbruck, Salzburg, Munich, Nuremberg, Bozen, Meran, Brixen and the court of Spain.

Jacob Stainer produced a few violas, including a viola di bordone and a viola bastarda, and only a few cellos that are a rarity.

Jacob Stainer always produced his instruments, more than 300, by himself and never allowed apprentices to create a school in order to hand down his expertise.