Carl Claudius (1855–1931) and His Sound-Chests

Danish Carl Claudius (1855–1931), who began collecting musical instruments in the 1880s, acquired one of the largest western instrument collections in Europe in his time. He financed his collecting passion by his textile manufacturing success in Malmö, Sweden where he lived from 1884 to 1906. His private collection was displayed in his house where he arranged historical concerts. Both the Stockholm and Copenhagen museums of music history acquired donations from Claudius during his lifetime; today the remaining collection forms part of the Danish Music Museum. This chapter examines Claudius&s; devotion as a collector, educationalist, and revitaliser of old music.