Carl Rönisch

Biography

Carl Rönisch was born at Goldberg, Silesia, in 1814, and experienced all the privations of poverty in his youth, but his inborn talent and determination overcame adverse conditions. Without capital, but with unlimited faith in his own ability, he began making pianos at Dresden in 1845 and in time shipped his products to all parts of the globe; the text credits him as one of the pioneers in exporting German pianos. His grands and uprights became so popular in Russia that he was compelled to erect a factory in St. Petersburg. Rewarded with the highest awards at expositions where his pianos were exhibited, Rönisch was also personally honored with decorations and appointed purveyor to the Court of Saxony. He died July 21, 1893, at the age of 80. The text preserved here is a fragment carried over from a preceding, unread page: it notes only that 'the business is successfully carried on by his sons, who have been his associates for many years.' A portrait labeled Carl Rönisch accompanies this passage, indicating he is its subject, but no further biographical detail about him appears within the pages examined.

Highlights

• Born at Goldberg, Silesia, in 1814, into poverty, and founded his Dresden piano firm without capital
• One of the pioneers in exporting German pianos; built a factory in St. Petersburg due to the popularity of his pianos in Russia
• Appointed purveyor to the Court of Saxony; died July 21, 1893, at age 80
• A portrait of him appears with a note that his business was carried on successfully by his sons, who had long been his associates

Source

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), pp. 236, 237.

Public domain.