Karl Adam Horlein

Bavaria, Winkelhof, 1829–1902

Karl Adam Horlein (1829-1902) was a distinguished German luthier, born in Winkelhof and active in Kitzingen and Würzburg. A pupil of Joseph Vauchel, he further honed his skills working with Anton Hoffmann and Gabriel Lembock in Vienna. Horlein established his own workshop in Kitzingen in 1853, later moving to Würzburg in 1866. He was renowned for his fine workmanship, crafting instruments based on both personal and Stradivari-derived models, utilizing both oil and spirit varnishes. Notably, he was the first to construct the innovative viola alta according to the designs of Professor Hermann Ritter. Horlein's reputation extended to his work as a repairer for the Duke of Sachsen-Meiningen, and his instruments frequently received awards at exhibitions.

Worked Bavaria, Winkelhof

Taught by Joseph Vauchel

Maker Overview

Life

Karl Adam Horlein (1829-1902) was born in 1829 in Winkelhof, near Würzburg, Germany. He began his training as a pupil of Joseph Vauchel. Following this, he spent three years working as an assistant in Vienna, primarily under Anton Hoffmann and also with Gabriel Lembock. In 1853, Horlein established his own business in Kitzingen, Bavaria. He later relocated his workshop to Würzburg in 1866, where he continued his work. He was appointed as a repairer to the Duke of Sachsen-Meiningen., in his later years, Horlein had instruments pre-made in places like Markneukirchen, personally completing and varnishing them. A biography with his picture can be found in de Wit's Zeitschr. f. d. Instr. 1902. No. 14.

Characteristics

Models: Karl Adam Horlein crafted instruments based on both his personal designs and models derived from Stradivari.
Workmanship: John Dilworth notes his fine workmanship.
Varnish: He utilized both oil and spirit varnish in his instrument making.
Innovation: Horlein was the first builder of the renowned Ritter'schen Viola alta, constructing it to the designs of Hermann Ritter., in 1875, under Professor Hermann Ritter's direction, he made a "viola alta" precisely following the principles outlined in the book "Die Geschichte der Viola Alta" (Leipzig, 1877), which was noted for its full, sonorous tone.
Reputation: He held a great reputation as both a maker of new instruments and a repairer of old ones.

Recorded labels

K. A. Hörlein invenit
Würzburg Hermann Ritter invenit: privileg. No. 260
K. A. Hörlein fecit Würzburg, 1891John Dilworth
Karl Adam Hörlein
fecit in Kitzingen 1857John Dilworth
Repariert von K. A. Hörlein
in Kitzingen 1853John Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Training: Karl Adam Horlein was a pupil of Joseph Vauchel.
Mentorship: He worked for three years as an assistant in Vienna, primarily under Anton Hoffmann and also with Gabriel Lembock.
Collaboration: He collaborated with Professor Hermann Ritter in the development and construction of the viola alta.
Awards: Karl Adam Horlein was frequently awarded prizes at exhibitions for his work.
Appointments: He was appointed as the court instrument maker to the Duke of Sachsen-Meiningen.
Documentation: A biography featuring his picture was published in de Wit's Zeitschr. f. d. Instr. 1902. No. 14.

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Biographies

The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:

John Dilworth+

HÖRLEIN, Karl Adam Born 1829 Winkelhof, died 1902 Würzburg Germany. Pupil of Joseph Vauchel. Spent three years in Vienna with Anton Hoffmann and Gabriel Lembock. Established in Kitzingen, Bavaria 1853 and from 1866 in Würzburg. Repairer to the Duke of Sachsen-Meiningen. Personal and Stradivari-derived models. Fine workmanship with both oil and spirit varnish. Made the viola-alta to the designs of Hermann Ritter. K. A. Hörlein invenit / Würzburg Hermann Ritter invenit: privileg. No. 260 / K. A. Hörlein fecit Würzburg, 1891. Karl Adam Hörlein / fecit in Kitzingen 1857 Manuscript label: Repariert von K. A. Hörlein / in Kitzingen 1853

Cecie Stainer+

b. 1829 at Winkelhof, near Wurzburg. Pupil of Joseph Vauchel; later he worked for three years in Vienna, chiefly under Anton Hoffmann, but also under Gabriel Lembock. In 1853 he settled in Kitzingen, Bavaria; but in 1866 moved to Wurzburg. where he remained.
Both as a maker of new instruments and as a repairer of old ones he had a great reputation. In 1875, under Professor Hermann Ritter’s direction, he made a ” viola alta ” exactly on the principles laid down in the little book called ” Die Geschichte der Viola Alta” (Leipzig, 1877); it had a full, sonorous tone. He died 1902.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Schüler. von J. Vauchel, arbeitete dann drei Jahre als Gehilfe bei Lemböck
in Wien und begründete 1853 sein Geschäft in Kitzingen a./M., das er 1866
nach Würzburg verlegte. Er arbeitete nach eigenem und nach dem Stradivari –
Modell , wendete Weingeist- und Öllack an. Er |war u. A. der erste Erbauer
der bekannten Ritter’schen Viola alta und wurde auf Ausstellungen oft prämiirt,
auch zum herzogl. Sächs.-Meiningenschen Hof-Instrumentenmacher ernannt. In
den letzten Jahren liess er freilich seine Geigen in Markneukirchen etc. vorarbeiten
und vollendete und lackirte sie nur selbst. Seine Biographie mit Bild findet sich in de Wit’s Zeitschr. f. d. Instr. 1902. No. 14.

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