Ferdinand August Vincenz Homolka

History

Ferdinand August Vincenz Homolka (1828-1890) was born in 1828 and died in 1890 in Prague, Czech Republic.

He was the son and pupil of Emmanuel Adam Homolka and the nephew of Johann Stephan Homolka.

According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, he completed his apprenticeship in 1844 and subsequently worked for Kratschmann in Znaim, Franz Schmidt in Vienna, Jos. Barchánek in Ödenburg, Fietsche in Linz, Fischer in Vienna, and several masters in Prague.

He established his own business in 1847 and married Marie Kobr? on May 24, 1858.

His residences in Prague included Altstadt 291, then from 1851 to 1857 he shared a residence with his uncle, and later lived at Spálená ul. 92, 105, 104, Mále nám?sti No. 13, Husová t?ida 231 from 1873, and finally in Kgl. Weinbergen from 1888.

He acquired his citizenship in 1874.

He was known as 'the Prague Stradivarius'.

Craft

• Copying: He was known as 'the Prague Stradivarius' after a particularly successful copy of a 1719 Stradivari violin.
• Models: He produced various other copies of classical Italian work of very high quality and ingenuity, including instruments by Joseph Guarneri, Petrus Guarneri, and Nicolo Amati.
• Methodology: He focused on actual masterpieces of his predecessors, such as the violins of Count Wielhorski, and paid attention to the smallest details in his imitations of Stradivari.
• Archings: While not favoring a high arching, he considered an overly flat model unsuitable, and he excelled at maintaining the correct wood thickness.
• Other Instruments: In his younger years, he also made many guitars.
• Varnish: He used both oil and spirit varnish in red, orange-yellow, and red-brown colors.
• Labels: Examples of his labels include "Ferd. August Homolka / in Prag. 1866", "Ferd. August Homolka / fecit Pragae 1849 / copie nach Math. Alban", and "Ferdinandus Aug. Homolka / Fecit Pragae 18..".

Influence

• Family Training: He was the son and pupil of Emmanuel Adam Homolka and the nephew of Johann Stephan Homolka.
• Apprenticeships: After completing his apprenticeship in 1844, he worked for Kratschmann in Znaim, Franz Schmidt in Vienna, Jos. Barchánek in Ödenburg, Fietsche in Linz, Fischer in Vienna, and several masters in Prague.

Legacy

• Nickname: He was known as 'the Prague Stradivarius' due to his exceptional ability to imitate Stradivari, even down to the smallest details.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: His addresses in Prague included Altstadt 291, Spálená ul. 92, 105, 104, Mále nám?sti No. 13, Husová t?ida 231 (from 1873), and Kgl. Weinbergen (from 1888).

Summary

Ferdinand August Vincenz Homolka (1828-1890) was a Czech luthier from Prague, known as 'the Prague Stradivarius' for his exceptional copies of classical Italian instruments, particularly those of Stradivari.

He was trained by his father, Emmanuel Adam Homolka, and worked for several masters before establishing his own workshop in 1847.

Homolka was noted for his meticulous attention to detail, use of oil and spirit varnishes, and his ability to replicate the nuances of master instruments.