Carl Joseph Hellmer

Name: Carl Joseph Hellmer auction price records, Amati Instrument Archive
Creator: Amati

Prague, Smichov, 1739–1811

Carl Joseph Hellmer (1739-1811) was a prominent Czech violin maker, born in Smichov near Prague. He was the son of Johann Georg Hellmer and a pupil and assistant of Ulrich Eberle. Hellmer worked in Germany before returning to Prague in 1763, where he married Katharina Piestl and obtained citizenship. He was active as a violin maker from 1763, producing excellent instruments on Stainer and Stradivari models with distinctive varnishes. Regarded as one of the best makers of the Prague school, he also served as a co-director of the violin makers' guild from 1808 to 1810.

Worked Prague, Smichov

Made Cello, Viola, Violin

Taught by Ulrich Eberle

Family Son of Johann Georg Hellmer

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£4,820

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Cello	72.3 cm Prague, 1794 [Probably by]	July 2010	£3,846
Cello	71.2 cm Prague, 1780 c. Viola d'gamba	October 2009	£4,820
Violin	35.6 cm Pargue, 1790 c. [Probably by]	April 2008	£1,128
Violin	Prague, 1782	November 2005	£1,737
Viola	39.7 cm 1767	June 1998	£2,875
Violin	17--	November 1997	£289
Violin	1770	April 1982	£1,430
Violin	1770	May 1981	£1,980

Maker Overview

Life

Carl Joseph Hellmer (1739-1811) was born in 1739 in Smichov, near Prague, Czech Republic, and died in Prague in 1811, though Cecie Stainer states his death year as 1812. He was the son of Johann Georg Hellmer., after completing his apprenticeship, he worked for a long time in Germany before returning to Prague in 1763. On September 5, 1763, he married Katharina Piestl (born 1742, died 1814), with whom he had seven sons and seven daughters. On May 31, he obtained citizenship in Prague's Malá Strana (Kleinseite). He lived in his father's house until 1803 and subsequently at Nosticova ul. (Nostitzgasse) No. 466. From 1808 to 1810, he served as a co-director of the violin makers' guild.

Characteristics

Instruments: Hellmer was a player of, and composer for, the lute and mandolin, and was active as a violin maker from 1763.
Models: He produced excellent work on Stainer and Stradivari models.
Varnish: His instruments featured good yellow-brown or dark opaque red spirit varnish, with Cecie Stainer noting a red-brown varnish.
Labels: Examples of his labels include "Carolus Hellmer / in Prag.18..", "Carolus Hellmer / me fecit Pragae. 1769", and "Carolus Josephus Hellmer / me fecit Pragae. 1805". The earliest date found in his instruments is said to be 1764.

Recorded labels

Carolus Hellmer
in Prag.18..John Dilworth
Carolus Hellmer
me fecit Pragae. 1769John Dilworth
Carolus Josephus Hellmer
me fecit Pragae. 1805John Dilworth
Carolus Hellmer in Prag.
1764John Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Mentorship: He was a pupil and assistant of Ulrich Eberle, and Cecie Stainer.
Family Tradition: He was the successor to his father, Johann Georg Hellmer.
School: He is regarded as one of the best makers of the Prague school.
Reputation: Carl Joseph Hellmer is regarded as one of the best makers of the Prague school.
Leadership: He served as a co-director of the violin makers' guild from 1808 to 1810.

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Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

HELLMER, Carl Joseph Born 1739 Smichov, nr. Prague, died 1811 Prague Czech Republic. Son of Johann Georg Hellmer, below. Pupil and assistant of Ulrich Eberle. Player of, and composer for, lute and mandolin. Active violin maker from 1763. Excellent work on Stainer and Stradivari models. Regarded as one of the best makers of the Prague school. Good yellow-brown or dark opaque red spirit varnish. Carolus Hellmer / in Prag.18.. Carolus Hellmer / me fecit Pragae. 1769 Carolus Josephus Hellmer / me fecit Pragae. 1805 Carolus Hellmer in Prag. / 1764

George Hart+

Pupil of Eberle of Prague.

Cecie Stainer+

b. 1739, Prague; d. 1812. Son of a maker there. He was working under Ulrich Eberle for some years, and made some very good violins, with red-brown varnish. The earliest date found in his instruments is said to be 1769.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Nachfolger seines Vaters Joh. Georg H. und Schüler von Joh. Ud. Eberle.
Nach beendeter Lehrzeit arbeitete er lange in Deutschland und kehrte erst
1763 nach Prag zurück, wo er am 5. September Katharina Piestl (geb. 1742,
† 1814) heirathete, die ihm sieben Söhne und sieben Töchter gebar. Am 31. Mai
erlangte er das Bürgerrecht auf der Prager Kleinseite. Er wohnte bis 1803
im väterlichen Hause und von da an Nosticova ul. (Nostitzgasse) No. 466 und
war von 1808—1810 Mitvorsteher der Geigenmacher-Innung. Seine Geigen, die

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