Ficker violins were often modelled on those from the important 17th century Tyrolean violin maker Jakob Stainer. Stainer used a characteristic design which differed markedly from his famous Italian counterparts like Antonio Stradivari. The pronounced curvature of the top and back plates of Stainer’s instruments meant a shorter, wider instrument than those produced by the Italians, whilst Stainer incorporated short, vertical f holes.

The back plate, ribs and scroll of the violin on display in the Deutschlandmuseum are made of European maple, while the top plate is realized in European spruce. The high-quality workmanship of Ficker’s violins, their warm, resonant sound, and their volume meant that they were in high demand across Europe.