Johann Nepomuk Bina

History

Johann Nepomuk Bina (1826-1897) was born in 1826 and died in 1897 in Prague, Czech Republic. According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, he was the son of a musician and master tailor. He established himself independently in Prague in 1853.

Craft

• Subheading: Workmanship: Instruments produced by Bina are described as good professional work, typical of the Prague school.
• Subheading: Characteristics: His soundholes were rather large and extended.
• Subheading: Models: He utilized various classical models, including long-pattern Stradivari and Amati. He also made double basses in viol form with a Viennese-style festooned pegbox profile.
• Subheading: Style: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that he was a characteristic representative of the Prague school, though considered a master of the second rank.

Influence

• Subheading: Training: Bina was a pupil of F. Lehner, with whom he remained until 1849 after a four-year apprenticeship.
• Subheading: Experience: He subsequently worked for several makers in Austria and Hungary, including Joh. Stoss, J. Hamberger in Pressburg, F. A. Patzelt in Budapest, and Ant. Hoffmann in Vienna.

Legacy

• Subheading: Expert Status: Since 1864, Johann Nepomuk Bina was a sworn expert for violins.

Further Information

• Subheading: Addresses: Over the years, he resided at various addresses in Neustadt, including No. 793, 802, 52, 835, 825, 788, and 834. From 1878 to 1894, he was located at Wenzelsplatz (Václavské náměstí) No. 841, and finally at «in der Grube» (V Jámě) No. 697. His workshop was at Wenzelsplatz No. 5 in 1885.
• Subheading: Labels & Inscriptions: Examples of his labels include “Johann Bina / Prague / fecit anno Domini. 18—”, “Opravil Reparirt Bina”, “J. Bina v Praze Johann Bina / in / Prag anno 1877”, “Johann Bina Musikinstrumentenverfertiger und beeideter / Schatzer, Anno 1885 / Prag / Wenzclsplatz No. 5 neu”, and “Johann Bina copiert / Hironymus Amatus / Nikolai Filius / Anno 1877”.

Summary

Johann Nepomuk Bina (1826-1897) was a Prague-based luthier, active from 1853. A pupil of F. Lehner, he gained experience across Austria and Hungary before establishing his own workshop. His instruments, typical of the Prague school, were considered good professional work, featuring large soundholes and classical models like Stradivari and Amati, as well as unique double basses. He was also a sworn expert for violins from 1864.