Biography

Born at Markneukirchen (Saxony), he finds employment in the Nürnberger shops at the age of fourteen, at the same time studying theory at the School of Violinmaking. In 1899, Möller leaves Markneukirchen in order to work with Max Möckel at St. Petersburg. In 1904, he leaves Russia and joins Karel van der Meer, of Amsterdam, with whom he works until 1913, when he opens his own workshop in the Dutch capital. In addition to being a violin-maker, Max Möller also used to make bows, thus following in the tradition of his earlier principal Van der Meer who was also a prominent bowmaker.
Möller's work can be classed in different periods. From 1913 to 1918, he devotes nearly all his time to making new instruments. They all are well-made, after Italian examples with the heads sometimes carved to represent women's or angels' heads. In later years he gathered the finest collection of old instruments, ever brought to Holland. Between 1925 and 1929, he concentrates once more on making new instruments and turns his back on the trade in old violins and all that goes with it. In this very productive period, he has gathered quite a numbered of assistants around him. From 1930 to 1935, on numerous trips abroad, he once again collects remarkable instruments for Holland.
From 1935 onward, at the age of sixty, he returns to the making of new instruments. In this last period, he creates 14 large violas which are of outstanding merit, in addition to numerous violins and violoncellos.
No other Dutch 'luthier' has been as productive as Max Möller, and of no other Dutch violin-maker are so many instruments played by musicians. It is Möller who created and stimulated the taste in Holland for the well-made new instrument. Max Möller II, son of the former, received his early training from his father. He studied at the School of Violin-making at Mittenwald. In 1935 he went into partnership with his father.

From: The Violin-makers of the Low Countries, by Max Möller, Amsterdam (1955)