Georg Aman

History

Georg Aman (1671-1731) was born in 1671 in Vils, Bavaria, and died in 1731 in Augsburg, Germany, according to The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers by John Dilworth. He married the widow of the lutenist M. Wöhrlein (Wörle) on February 13, 1695, as recorded in the Augsburg marriage register. He was still mentioned in the Augsburg tax records of 1717.

Craft

• Model: Aman often followed a Stainer model, but he also varied his models frequently.
• Features: His instruments sometimes featured painted purfling. He was fond of adding carved heads to the pegboxes of his instruments.
• Materials: The wood for his instruments was often selected with care, with the back typically made from a single piece. The neck and scroll were frequently crafted from pearwood.
• Varnish: Sources contain conflicting information regarding his varnish. John Dilworth describes it as "extraordinary varnish of thick texture and good red-orange colour." In contrast, Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states that his varnish "does not particularly stand out" and ranges in color from "light red to dark brown."
• Sound Quality: His work is generally considered good, though his violins are noted as not having a "great tone." His larger instruments, such as violas, cellos, and basses, are considered his best.

Legacy

• Museum Holdings: A Poche (pocket violin) from 1699 is held in the Germanic Museum in Nuremberg. A small lute from 1707 is part of the princely Hohenzollern Museum in Sigmaringen. The State Collection of Patriotic Antiquities in Stuttgart possesses a violin from 1716. An Altquinton from 1729 (No. 875) is housed in the Royal Collection of Old Musical Instruments in Berlin.
• Exhibitions: A Pochette made by Aman was featured in the Vienna Music and Theatre Exhibition.

Further Information

• Label: An example label from 1724 reads "Georg Aman / Lauten / - und Geigen-Macher / in Augsburg, 1724."
• Signature: He consistently signed his name as "Aman," never "Amann" or "Amma."

Summary

Georg Aman was an 18th-century lutenist and violin maker from Vils, Bavaria, who worked in Augsburg, Germany. Known for his Stainer-model instruments, he often incorporated carved heads on pegboxes and used carefully selected woods, frequently with one-piece backs and pearwood for necks and scrolls. While sources offer conflicting descriptions of his varnish, his larger instruments are generally considered his finest work. Several of his instruments, including a Poche, lute, violin, and Altquinton, are preserved in various European museums and collections.