Matteo (I) Sellas (Seelos)
c.1599–1654
Matteo (I) SELLAS (SEELOS) (1599-1654) was a highly influential Venetian maker of ornate plucked instruments, born in Füssen, Germany, and active in Venice at the sign 'alla Corona'.
Maker Overview
Life
Matteo (I) SELLAS (SEELOS) (1599-1654) was born circa 1599 in Füssen, Germany, and died in 1654 in Venice, Italy.
Characteristics
- Instrument Focus
- Matteo (I) Sellas was chiefly a maker of ornate plucked instruments, many of which are preserved in museums worldwide.
- Artistic Finish
- , his guitars are finished in quite an artistic manner.
- Specific Instruments
- The Liceo comunale di musica in Bologna possesses a large guitar from 1639 by him.
- Exhibited Works
- In 1872, a bass lute was exhibited in the South Kensington-Museum.
- Museum Holdings
- The Museum of the Paris Conservatorium holds two lutes (No. 230, 231), and the Brussels Conservatorium has a chitaronne.
- Private Collections
- A lute by him is held by Claudius in Malmö.
- Kraus Museum
- The Museum Kraus in Florence contains a mandoline (No. 483), a guitar (No. 499), and a theorbe (No. 513).
- Correr Collection
- The collection Correr in Venice holds several calascionen by this master.
- Guitar Details
- One guitar built in 1600 is 81.5 cm long, with its neck inlaid with ivory; the body is 46.5 cm long and 26.5 cm wide, and the sides are 10 cm high, as detailed by Karel Jalovec.
- Matteo Sellas
alla Corona in VeneziaJohn Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Workshop Importance: His workshop was the most important and influential in Venice at that time.
- Employment: His workshop gave employment to many of the greatest violin makers of the following generation.
- Apprenticeship: Lebet reports that a Matteo Selos was working as an apprentice to Matteo Buchenberg in S. Lorenzo in Damaso, Rome, from 1613 to 1616.
- Family Succession: His son Domenico (born 1624, died 1690) succeeded to the 'alla Corona' shop.
- Second Son's Shop: His younger son Zuanne (born 1639, died 1699) took over his brother's shop 'alla Stella'.
- Preserved Works: Many of his excellent works are still preserved.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
SELLAS (SEELOS), Matteo (I) Born circa. 1599 Füssen Germany, died 1654 Venice Italy. Younger son of Michael (Michele) Sellas and brother of Giorgio, above. Worked separately from his brother at the sign ‘alla Corona’. Chiefly a maker of ornate plucked instruments, many of which are preserved in museums worldwide. His workshop was the most important and influential in Venice at that time, and gave employment to many of the greatest violin makers of the following generation. Lebet reports that a Matteo Selos was working as an apprentice to Matteo Buchenberg in S. Lorenzo in Damaso, Rome 1613-1616. His son Domenico (Born 1624, died 1690) succeeded to the ‘alla Corona’ shop, while his younger son Zuanne (Born 1639, died 1699) took over his brothers shop ‘alla Stella’. Matteo Sellas / alla Corona in Venezia [Pio]
Cecie Stainer+
Was working in Venice 1630-40 at the sign of ” Alia Corona.” In the Paris Conservatoire Collection are two of his arch-lutes ; and at Bologna, in the Liceo Comunale di Musica, is a large guitar with the label ” Matteo Sellas alia corona in Venetia, 1639.” A theorbo was dated 1639.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Der bedeutendste venezianische Lautenmacher, von dem sich noch viele treffliche Arbeiten erhalten haben. Er führte das Ladenschild »alla Corona«, das er auch als Brandmarke verwendete oder durch eine Krone andeutete. Das Liceo comunale di musica in Bologna besitzt eine grosse Guitarre von 1639 von ihm, im South Kensington-Museum war 1872 eine Basslaute ausgestellt, im Museum des Pariser Conservatoriums befinden sich zwei Lauten (No. 230, 231), im Brüsseler Conservatorium eine Chitaronne und eine Laute bei Claudius in Malmö von ihm. Das Museum Kraus in Florenz enthält eine Mandoline (No. 483), eine Guitarre (No. 499) und eine Theorbe (No. 513) und die Sammlung Correr in Venedig mehrere Calascionen dieses Meisters. Brandmarke:
Karel Jalovec+
Venice. 1600—1627. Skilful maker, whose guitars are finished in quite an artistic manner. One guitar built by him in 1600 is 81.5 cm long; its neck is inlaid with ivory; the body is 46.5 cm long and 26.5 cm wide; the sides are 10 cm high.
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