Johann Georg Hellmer , Praha asi 1750

This violoncello is a very precious example of the Old Prague School. Its photographs are published in the book UMĚNÍ HOUSLAŘŮ by V. Pilař and Fr. Šrámek from 1986. I also comfirmed the authenticity in a certificate in 2013.

The body has a graceful form with a slim waist in the C bouts. The archings are high, though nicely round and fluent. The elegance and high quality craftsmenship proves a real mastery of the author. At its age the instrument bares many injuries. In the plates and ribs there are many cracks, mostly well repaired and secured with cleats or patches. It does not require any intervention at the moment. Despite a lot of retouching there is still plenty of beautiful original varnish with inimitable patina on the surface. Moreover, the dominant advantage is a great coulouful and carrying sound.

Johann Georg Hellmer was born in Waldenhofen (according to E. E. Homolka) or Augsburg (according to K. Jalovec), died 1770 in Prague. Probably came to Prague ofter 1700 following his countryman Thomas Edlinger. He learned at him together with J. U. Eberle. That is why their works look similar. In 1741 was born his son Karel Josef who later took over the craft from him. In 1724 he became a citizen of Prague’s quarter Malá Strana. From 1739 he worked in Tomášská street and from 1746 in Novodvorská street in Prague III in a house he owned.

J. G. Hellmer worked in the old Prague style. His instruments are highly arched. He used quality fine spruce for his tops and usually plane maple for his backs, somtimes even bird-eyes maple. On the back sides of the peg boxes he usually carved a hole facing the A peg. His wokmaship is precise. The varnish is usually opaque of yellow-brown to ruby red, applied on a glue base. It chips off. His instruments have a good cultivated sound.