Johann Gottfried Hamm
Markneukirchen, Neukirchen, 1744–1817
Johann Gottfried Hamm (1744-1817) was a German violin maker from Markneukirchen, who became a Master of the Violin Makers' Guild in 1764. He is highly regarded as one of the best makers of his family and region. Hamm's instruments typically followed a Stainer model, featuring a distinctive head with deeply undercut oval volutes and often adorned with ivory or mother-of-pearl inlays around the edges. He used good materials and a varnish of variable shades, branding his instruments internally with 'I*G*H'.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
19 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | 36.1 cm Neukirchen, 1797 | — | February 2010 | £2,117 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Neukirchen, 1812 | — | November 2008 | £2,284 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Markneukirchen, 1764 (scroll possibly later) | — | October 2007 | £2,427 |
| Viola | 39.3 cm Markneukirchen, 1800 c. | — | September 2007 | £2,160 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm 1800 c. Attributed to | — | September 2007 | £1,080 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm 1780 c. | — | July 2007 | £1,177 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm 1780 c. | — | July 2006 | £1,311 |
| Violin | — | April 2006 | £1,101 | |
| Violin | Markneukirchen, 1779 | — | November 2005 | £632 |
| Viola | 39.2 cm Markneukirchen, 1800 c. | — | May 2005 | £1,560 |
| Violin | 1764 | — | October 2003 | £1,866 |
| Viola | 1780 29.8 cm | — | November 2001 | £470 |
| Violin | 1790 | — | November 1996 | £697 |
| Violin | 1780-99 | — | November 1992 | £1,869 |
| Violin | 1800 c. | — | November 1992 | £2,750 |
| Violin | 1790 c. | — | November 1989 | £506 |
| Viola | 39.4 cm 1780 c. | — | July 1989 | £550 |
| Violin | 1818 | — | June 1987 | £550 |
| Violin | 1800 c. | — | January 1987 | £374 |
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Maker Overview
Life
Johann Gottfried Hamm (1744-1817) was born in 1744 and died in 1817 in Markneukirchen, Germany. He became a Master of the Violin Makers' Guild in 1764. Hamm is regarded as the best maker of his family and was considered one of the best Vogtland violin makers of his time. He indicated a debt to Rome and Cremona on his labels, though there is no evidence that he had any experience in those cities., he was long counted among the Italian school due to his labels, despite his model and varnish not justifying this attribution. Sources contain conflicting information about his working period, with Cecie Stainer noting he worked from 1780 to 1810.
Characteristics
- Model
- Hamm's instruments often followed a Stainer model with a medium-high arch and a deeply channeled edge.
- Head
- He crafted a very individual head, characterized by oval volutes that were deeply undercut, with the last turn extended into a very reduced eye, surmounting a swan-necked pegbox.
- Inlays
- His instruments were sometimes inlaid with ivory and mother-of-pearl around the edges, and he often incorporated ivory edges, which were more delicate than those of most Neukirchen masters.
- Varnish
- The varnish on his instruments was of variable shades.
- Materials
- He utilized good materials in his work.
- Pattern
- George Hart notes that he made instruments of a wide pattern.
- Johann Gottfried Hamm
Instrumenten Macher
Stadt Neukirchen bey Adorf
im Voigtlande Fecit Ao 1810John Dilworth - Johann Gottfried Hamm,
Prope violino correspondent
Romani Cremona Ao 17..John Dilworth
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
HAMM, Johann Gottfried Born 1744, died 1817 Markneukirchen Germany. Became a Master of the Violin Makers’ Guild 1764. Regarded as the best maker of the family. Indicated his debt to Rome and Cremona on his label, but there is no evidence that he had any experience in those cities. Stainer model with medium-high arch and deeply channelled edge. Very individual head: oval volutes deeply undercut and extended last turn into very reduced eye, surmounting swan-necked pegbox. Sometimes inlaid with ivory and mother-of-pearl around the edges. Varnish of variable shades. Good materials. Branded internally: ‘I*G*H’ and occasionally: ‘Hamm’. Printed label: Johann Gottfried Hamm / Instrumenten Macher / Stadt Neukirchen bey Adorf / im Voigtlande Fecit Ao 1810 Johann Gottfried Hamm, / Prope violino correspondent / Romani Cremona Ao 17.. [Hamma]
George Hart+
Made instruments of a wide pattern, often with ivory edges, and branded inside with his initials.
Cecie Stainer+
A German maker who worked 1780-1810. Instruments are known, with ivory edges, in which his name is branded.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Einer der besten vogtländischen Geigenmacher seiner Zeit. Schon 1764
wurde er Meister und war so sorgfältig in seiner Arbeit, dass man ihn lange
Zeit — veranlasst durch den Umstand, dass er gerne Rom oder Cremona als
Ursprungsort angab — der italienischen Schule zuzählte, so wenig sein Modell
und sein Lack auch dazu berechtigten. Bei vielen Geigen und Violen scheint
ihm ein breites Stainer’sches Modell vorgeschwebt zu haben, auch die Einlagen
machte er zierlicher als die meisten Neukirchner Meister, oft brachte er einen
Elfenbeinrand an. Er verwandte verschiedene Zettel und brannte seine Initialen
auch ein.
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