Instrument Type: Violin
Year: 1899
Price: SOLD
Maker: Joseph Hel
The Violin
Joseph Hel made this violin in 1899, and it carries an extraordinary provenance as the former property of the celebrated Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe. Ysaÿe frequently visited Hel’s workshop, and it is easy to imagine him discovering this instrument there and falling in love with it. The violin features a beautiful back of the finest maple and produces a gorgeous, penetrating tone that is both rich and powerful. It has a back length of 35.7 cm.
The violin comes with remarkable documentation. Papers include letters from Jeannette Ysaÿe, the widow of Eugène Ysaÿe, dated June 7, 1950, along with a sales receipt to violinist Remo Bolognini. Bein and Fushi have also certified the instrument as the “ex-Ysaÿe.” Professional violinists have owned and played this violin ever since, a testament to its exceptional quality and historical significance.
The Maker
Joseph Hel was born in Vosges, France in 1842. As a young man tending sheep, he reportedly wandered off repeatedly to visit the violin makers in nearby Mirecourt, the historic center of French violin making. Drawn to this world from an early age, Hel began his apprenticeship under François Salzard in 1856, at just fourteen years old.
After seven years as an apprentice, Hel went on to work for Sébastien Vuillaume before establishing his own workshop in Lille in 1865. Throughout his career, he never lost the enthusiasm for violin making that had first drawn him away from the sheep fields of his youth. His constant search for progress led him to develop innovative methods of both making and repairing instruments.
Violin expert William Henley praised Hel’s craftsmanship and attention to detail as exceptional. Today, Hel’s instruments remain highly regarded, and this particular violin stands as a remarkable example, both for its craftsmanship and for its connection to one of the greatest violinists in history.
Terms of Sale
This violin has been sold and is no longer available for purchase. Benning Violins invites you to browse our current catalog of fine instruments or contact us directly to inquire about similar pieces.