Lowendall Star Works "Imperial Violin", Strad 1721 model, ca 1900, Berlin | Metzler Violins

This is a Stradivarius model violin made by the notable "Star Works Company" in Berlin, Germany, circa 1900. It bears the star brand stamp on the button and the "Imperial" emblem on the back of the scroll, see photos. The finish and condition of the instrument are excellent and it has a deep, inviting sound.

This violin is associated with Louis Lowendall (1836–1912), a notable figure in the violin world during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Though not known as a hands-on maker himself, Lowendall was deeply involved in the violin trade from a young age. Encouraged by his father, he developed an early passion for both playing and understanding the construction of stringed instruments. He studied music in Königsberg and became skilled on both violin and cello.

Lowendall trained with respected bow makers like Bausch and Heinrich Knopf and eventually established a successful music shop in Berlin in 1855. He employed fine craftsmen to build instruments under his name, creating a range of trade-quality violins and bows. After several years, he moved to the United States, forming a close connection with George Gemünder in New York. His instruments and tonewoods were distributed both in America and England, where he traveled extensively.

In 1889, he expanded his operations with a larger workshop in Berlin called the Star Works Company, which focused on producing and exporting violins and bows to Western markets. This instrument comes from that era of production.