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Paul (I) Pilat

Benesov, Budapest, New York, 1860–1931

Paul (I) Pilat (1860-1931) was a prominent Hungarian violin maker, born in Benešov, Czech Republic, and trained by T. Zach in Vienna.

Worked Benesov, Budapest, New York
Made Viola, Violin

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£7,879

13 results

Type Details Auction house Sold Price
ViolinLabelled Pilat Pál CS es Kir. Szab. Hangszer Keszito Budapest VI. Andrassy Ut 42sz Op. 210 1917 Lot 157TarisioNovember 2024£7,879est. $ 5,000-8,000
Violin35.9 cm Budapest, 1899February 2011£5,196
Violin35.6 cm Budapest, 1925, "op 407"April 2010£3,535
Violin35.8 cm Budapest, 1900 c. Workshop ofMarch 2009£1,170
Violin35.9 cm Attributed toMay 2007£1,440
ViolinNew York, 1927May 2005£6,238
Violin1910 c.October 2002£2,903
Violin1882June 2002£6,307
Violin1912May 2001£5,461
Viola39.5 cm 1925November 2000£2,530
Violin1895November 1999£4,140
Violin1910 c.March 1997£4,370
Violin1888June 1983£1,045

Maker Overview

Life

Paul (I) Pilat (1860-1931) was born in 1860 in Benešov, Czech Republic, and died in 1931 in Budapest, Hungary.

Characteristics

Workmanship
, he produced fine and very accurate work on the Stradivari model.
Varnish
He used a good orange-red varnish and, applied a self-produced amber varnish.
Materials
John Dilworth notes his use of excellent materials.
Bows
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states that his bows are sought after.
Innovation
He sold his own varnish commercially and developed a patent bass-bar, which Willibald Leo Lütgendorff describes as a 'reconstructed' bass-bar for which he held a patent.
Branding
Internally, instruments were branded 'Pilát P. Budapest'.
External Brands
Various brands used externally on the upper back included 'Pilát Pál', 'Paulus Pilatus', and 'Pilát P. Budapest'.
Labels
Printed labels included 'Paulus Pilát / P.P. fecit Budapestini anno 18..', 'P.P. / No.. Medic. Univ. / Dri Stephan Bolemán de Dezser / fecit Paulus Pilát 1913 / Op.207 Magyarország Arany Koszorús Mestere', and 'Paulus Pilát / fecit Budapestini anno 1926 / Op. 419.'
Recorded labels
  • Paulus Pilát
    P.P. fecit Budapestini anno 18..John Dilworth
  • P.P.
    No.. Medic. Univ.
    Dri Stephan Bolemán de Dezser
    fecit Paulus Pilát 1913
    Op.207 Magyarország Arany Koszorús Mestere
    Paulus Pilát
    fecit Budapestini anno 1926
    Op. 419.John Dilworth

Influence and legacy

  • Teachers: He was a pupil of T. Zach in Vienna from 1872 to 1877, and also a student of Thomas Zach in Vienna.
  • Employers: He worked as an assistant for B. Enzensberger, G. Lemböck, J. W. Schunda, and E. Bartek, and also for Gab. Lemböck and David Bittner in Vienna, and Jos. W. Schunda and Ed. Bartek.
  • Mentorship: He trained many of the best of the next generation of Hungarian makers, including J. Braun, M. Reményi, L. Köhler, J. Cigl, M. Firsz, E. Paduch, D. Bárány, J. Spiegel, and S. Muntyán.
  • Awards: He was awarded medals in Budapest and Paris in 1885, 1889, and 1900.
  • Workshop Continuity: His workshop was continued by his widow for some time before being taken over by P. Sáránszky.
  • Influence on Successors: He trained many significant Hungarian makers, including J. Braun, M. Reményi, L. Köhler, J. Cigl, M. Firsz, E. Paduch, D. Bárány, J. Spiegel, and S. Muntyán.
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Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

PILAT, Paul (I) Born 1860 Benešov Czech Republic, died 1931 Budapest Hungary. Pupil of T. Zach in Vienna 1872-1877. Worked for B. Enzensberger and later for G. Lemböck until 1880. Briefly returned to Zach, then moved to Budapest, working for J. W. Schunda and then E. Bartek, whom he succeeded in 1883. Appointed maker to the Hungarian royal court. Awarded medals in Budapest and in Paris, 1885, 1889, and 1900. His workshop was continued by his widow for some time before being taken over by P. Sáránszky. Trained many of the best of the next generation of Hungarian makers: J. Braun, M. Reményi, L. Köhler, J. Cigl, M. Firsz, E. Paduch, D. Bárány, J. Spiegel, and S. Muntyán. Fine and vary accurate work on Stradivari model. Good orange-red varnish and excellent materials. Sold his own varnish commercially, and developed a patent bass-bar. Branded internally: ‘Pilát P. Budapest’. Various brands used externally on upper back: ‘Pilát Pál’, ‘Paulus Pilatus’, ‘Pilát P. Budapest’. Printed labels: Paulus Pilát / P.P. fecit Budapestini anno 18.. P.P. / No.. Medic. Univ. / Dri Stephan Bolemán de Dezser / fecit Paulus Pilát 1913 / Op.207 Magyarország Arany Koszorús Mestere / Paulus Pilát / fecit Budapestini anno 1926 / Op. 419. [Benedek]

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Schüler von Thomas Zach in Wien, arbeitete als Gehilfe bei Gab. Lemböck
und David Bittner in Wien und bei Jos. W. Schunda und Ed. Bartek dessen
Geschäft er 1883 übernahm. Er macht sehr gute neue Geigen; seine Bögen sind
gesucht, und für einen »reconstruirten« Bassbalken besitzt er ein Patent. Er bringt
einen selbsterzeugten Bernsteinlack in Anwendung und besitzt seit 1885 eine grosse Zahl von Medaillen und Auszeichnungen. Er verwendet auch Brandmarken.

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