"DAHL, MATHIAS - Minneapolis, MN. 1888-1973. Born in Norway. Made first violin in 1895. Worked as a shoemaker, having learned from his father. Moved to the United States and studied violin making and repair under Halvor Blakkestad in Minneapolis. Seriously started making violins in 1912. Worked for Blakkestad Music until 1920, when he purchased the company. Associated in his later years with Olaf Urdahl. Continued making and repairing until his death. Excellent repairman. Strad model. He was a spiritualist and was reported to have received the formula for his varnish directly from the spirit of Stradivari. Very soft varnish in shades of red. Wellfigured maple. Fine workmanship. Very desirable instruments, especially for chamber music. Made about 395 violins, 15 violas, and 7 cellos. Received the highest award at the 1958 Centennial Minnesota Violin MakersŐ Contest, judged by Simone Sacconi. (Violin illustrated on page 84)"

-Thomas James Wenberg, The Violin Makers of the United States

Plate 1

    "DAHL, MATHIAS M. - Born in Norway, 1888. Took an interest in violins from infancy-made his first violin at the precocious age of seven, being unusually talented with tools in the art of woodcraft. Went to the United States and studied the finer points of delicate work under H. P. Blakkestead (Minneapolis). Subsequently worked for the Blakkestead Music Company. Still active 1949. Made a thorough study of re- graduating, arching, and particularly varnishing. Took the usual interest in following out the Stradivarian model as closely as possible, and shows from what simple materials and means beautiful workmanship may be produced when taken in hand by one who knows how to use them to good account. Sound-holes, scroll, and purfling done splendidly. Whole contour so harmonious that it could not have been thus represented without great know- ledge of what art can effect, and without a skilful hand to apply that knowledge. Colour of varnish is Venetian red, shading from light to dark tints, together with an excellent filler which adds considerably to the tonal qualities. Produced about three violins yearly. Instruments. built for the future, and as such, in that rosy time for tone-maturity his productions will have a significance far beyond that of an ordinary orchestral violin."

    -William Henley, The Universal Dictionary of Violin and Bowmakers