Machold Rare Violins
A formerly prominent German dealer in rare historical violins and other string instruments.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Machold Rare Violins was a German dealer specializing in historically important string instruments, particularly violins, violas, and cellos associated with celebrated makers such as Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù. The business traced its origins to 1861 in Markneukirchen, a German center of violin making, where it began as a violin manufacturer. In its later form, the company was based in Bremen and operated through an international network of offices and related establishments, including locations in Vienna, Zurich, Alpnach, Berlin, New York, Aspen, Chicago, Seoul, and Tokyo. The company became one of the best-known firms in the high-value historical string-instrument market. Its activities included buying and selling rare instruments, arranging consignments, using instruments in lending and collateral transactions, and advising collectors and institutions. Its inventory and network reportedly included instruments attributed to Stradivari and del Gesù, as well as works by makers such as Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi and Camillo Camilli. The firm’s reputation was closely associated with its owner, Dietmar Harry Joachim Machold, who was born in 1949 and became a major figure in the European rare-instrument trade. Machold was also granted an honorary professorship in connection with his efforts to procure a collection of historical violins for the Oesterreichische Nationalbank. The business collapsed amid a broad financial and criminal investigation. Questions arose over the authenticity and ownership of instruments that had been offered as collateral for substantial loans. In one investigated case, instruments represented as Stradivarius violins were examined by violin maker Roger Hargrave and forestry expert Michael Beuting. The examinations reportedly challenged both their attribution to Stradivari and the origin and age of the wood used in their construction. Other instruments allegedly held on commission were listed as collateral with lenders despite questions concerning possession and ownership. Investigators also examined the repeated use of instruments and certificates in overlapping financial arrangements. Machold faced dozens of criminal complaints from several countries, including Germany, Austria, the United States, Australia, the Netherlands, and Belgium. He was arrested in Switzerland in March 2011 and convicted by an Austrian court in November 2012 of embezzlement and fraud, receiving a six-year prison sentence. Separate restructuring and insolvency proceedings were initiated for his personal and company assets in 2010. The courts later removed his authority to administer those proceedings himself, and the business was ordered to close in December 2010; the company proceedings subsequently entered insolvency administration. The company is therefore best understood as a defunct historical-instrument dealership rather than an active international brand.
History
Machold Rare Violins originated in 1861 in Markneukirchen, Germany, where the enterprise began as a violin manufacturer. Markneukirchen had an established tradition of instrument making, and the business later evolved from manufacturing into the dealing and brokerage of historically important string instruments. In its mature form, the company was domiciled in Bremen and operated as an international specialist house rather than as a conventional mass-market musical-instrument retailer. Under Dietmar Harry Joachim Machold, the firm built a reputation in the market for rare violins, violas, and cellos. Its commercial focus included instruments attributed to leading Cremonese and Italian makers, especially Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù. The company also handled instruments by other historically recognized makers, including Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi and Camillo Camilli. Its business model combined direct sales, consignment arrangements, international brokerage, and relationships with collectors, performers, financial institutions, and cultural organizations. The firm developed an extensive geographic presence. Branches or associated establishments were reported in Vienna, Zurich, Alpnach, Bremen, Berlin, New York, Aspen, Chicago, Seoul, and Tokyo. This network reflected the international character of the high-end historical-instrument market, in which instruments may be bought, sold, loaned, consigned, or pledged across several jurisdictions. Machold himself became a prominent participant in that market and was granted an honorary professorship connected with a collection of historical violins he had procured for the Oesterreichische Nationalbank. The company's reputation deteriorated during investigations into its financing and instrument transactions. Banks had accepted or considered accepting instruments represented as Stradivarius violins as collateral for multimillion-dollar loans. When violin maker Roger Hargrave examined two such instruments at the request of bankers from Sparkasse Bremen, he reportedly concluded that they were not made by Stradivari. Forestry expert Michael Beuting separately examined the wood and reportedly found evidence inconsistent with the claimed maker, period, and geographic origin. The instruments' estimated value, if genuine, was described as approximately €5.2 million in total, whereas the examined instruments were reportedly valued at only a few thousand euros each. Investigators also examined the handling of consigned instruments. A 1765 viola attributed to Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi appeared on a lender's collateral list even though the lender had not physically received it. The viola and another instrument attributed to Camillo Camilli were instead associated with another financial institution. Additional questions concerned the use of instruments that allegedly did not belong to Machold and the reuse of valuable instruments in different lending arrangements. Machold reportedly told police that he had sold the Ex-Rosé Stradivarius in 2006 for €3 million to repay a loan, while the same instrument had also been used as collateral elsewhere. He further admitted duplicating violin certificates when necessary, according to the cited account. The financial crisis affected both Machold's personal estate and the company. He initiated restructuring proceedings for his personal assets on 22 October 2010 and for company assets on 29 October 2010. Courts subsequently removed his right to manage the proceedings himself. The company was ordered to close on 21 December 2010, and the business proceedings were converted into insolvency proceedings. His personal proceedings underwent a similar change, with a creditors' committee appointed in December 2010. Assets associated with Machold's lifestyle and estate, including Eichbüchl Castle near Vienna and other property, were sold during the insolvency process. Machold was arrested in Switzerland in March 2011. The investigation involved allegations of embezzlement, fraud, and related commercial misconduct, with complaints reported across multiple countries. In November 2012, an Austrian court convicted him of embezzlement and fraud and sentenced him to six years in prison. The combination of insolvency, criminal conviction, and the collapse of its principal's business ended Machold Rare Violins as an operating dealer. Its historical importance lies both in its former role as a major intermediary in the global market for rare string instruments and in the legal and financial controversy that brought that operation to an end.
- 2012
Fraud and embezzlement conviction
[1]An Austrian court convicted Machold in November and imposed a six-year prison sentence.
- 2011
Dietmar Machold arrested
[1]Machold was arrested in Switzerland in March in connection with allegations of embezzlement and commercial fraud.
- 2010
Personal and corporate restructuring proceedings begin
[1]Machold initiated restructuring proceedings for his personal assets in October and for company assets later that month. Courts subsequently withdrew his self-administration authority.
- 2010
Company ordered to close
[1]The company was ordered to close on 21 December, with the proceedings subsequently handled as insolvency proceedings.
- 1997
Machold acquires Eichbüchl Castle
[1]Dietmar Machold purchased the historic Eichbüchl Castle near Vienna, an asset later sold during insolvency-related proceedings.
- 1861
Enterprise established in Markneukirchen
[1]The business was established in Markneukirchen as a violin manufacturer, laying the foundation for the enterprise that later became Machold Rare Violins.
Products and positioning
An elite specialist dealer positioned around access to authenticated, historically significant string instruments and the international collector, performer, institutional, and finance markets surrounding them. Its later reputation was severely damaged by allegations concerning authenticity, ownership, collateralization, and financial misconduct.
Historical string instruments
Stradivari instruments
The company's most prominent offering was its dealing in instruments attributed to Antonio Stradivari, the Cremonese maker whose violins, violas, and cellos occupy the highest end of the historical string-instrument market. The business reportedly handled a substantial number of surviving Stradivari instruments over its history. Transactions in this category depended on attribution, provenance, condition, certificates, and specialist inspection.
Historical violins
Guarneri del Gesù violins
Machold Rare Violins also bought and sold violins attributed to Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, one of the most sought-after violin makers of the Cremonese tradition. These instruments were aimed at elite collectors, professional performers, and institutions seeking historically important Italian violins.
Rare string instruments
Historical Italian violins, violas, and cellos
Beyond the best-known Stradivari and del Gesù instruments, the firm handled rare works by other Italian makers, including Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi and Camillo Camilli. Its inventory model included direct sales and consignment, with instruments circulated internationally through its offices and commercial relationships.
Controversies
2012
Austrian conviction
An Austrian court convicted Dietmar Machold of embezzlement and fraud in November 2012 and sentenced him to six years in prison.
2011
International fraud complaints and arrest
Dozens of criminal complaints were reported across several countries. Machold was arrested in Switzerland in March 2011 and faced allegations including embezzlement and major commercial fraud.
2010
Collateral and authenticity investigation
The business came under investigation after instruments represented as Stradivarius violins were offered as collateral for multimillion-dollar loans. Specialist examination reportedly disputed the attribution and suggested that the instruments' wood was inconsistent with Stradivari's period and known source region.
2010
Questions over consigned instruments and duplicated collateral
Investigators examined cases in which consigned instruments appeared in collateral arrangements, instruments allegedly belonging to other parties were supplied to lenders, and the same valuable instrument was reportedly used in overlapping financial transactions. Machold was also reported to have admitted duplicating certificates for violins.
Brand decisions
2010
Initiation of restructuring proceedingsStrategyBackground
The business and its owner faced mounting financial and legal pressure connected with lending, collateral, and instrument transactions.
Action taken
Restructuring proceedings with self-administration were initiated for both personal and company assets in October 2010.
Aftermath
The courts later revoked self-administration, converted the matters into insolvency proceedings, and ordered the company to close.
Recent events
- 2010
Machold Rare Violins enters insolvency proceedings[1]
Bankruptcy
Restructuring proceedings were initiated for Machold's company assets in October 2010. His authority to administer the assets was later revoked, and the company was ordered to close in December 2010.
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