Mathias Thir (b. 1736) was a leading master of Viennese violin making during the classical period of Mozart and Haydn, Mathias Thir learned violin making from his brother Johann Georg Thir. Mathias began his career in Presburg before moving back to Vienna. He became quite successful owing to the fact that his violins were generally good sounding and were beautifully made with dark brown, or reddish brown varnish.