Karl Adam Horlein

History

Karl Adam Horlein (1829-1902) was born in 1829 in Winkelhof, near Würzburg, Germany. He began his training as a pupil of Joseph Vauchel. Following this, he spent three years working as an assistant in Vienna, primarily under Anton Hoffmann and also with Gabriel Lembock. In 1853, Horlein established his own business in Kitzingen, Bavaria. He later relocated his workshop to Würzburg in 1866, where he continued his work. He was appointed as a repairer to the Duke of Sachsen-Meiningen. According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, in his later years, Horlein had instruments pre-made in places like Markneukirchen, personally completing and varnishing them. A biography with his picture can be found in de Wit's Zeitschr. f. d. Instr. 1902. No. 14.

Craft

• Models: Karl Adam Horlein crafted instruments based on both his personal designs and models derived from Stradivari.
• Workmanship: John Dilworth notes his fine workmanship.
• Varnish: He utilized both oil and spirit varnish in his instrument making.
• Innovation: Horlein was the first builder of the renowned Ritter'schen Viola alta, constructing it to the designs of Hermann Ritter. According to Cecie Stainer, in 1875, under Professor Hermann Ritter's direction, he made a "viola alta" precisely following the principles outlined in the book "Die Geschichte der Viola Alta" (Leipzig, 1877), which was noted for its full, sonorous tone.
• Reputation: He held a great reputation as both a maker of new instruments and a repairer of old ones, as noted by Cecie Stainer.

Influence

• Training: Karl Adam Horlein was a pupil of Joseph Vauchel.
• Mentorship: He worked for three years as an assistant in Vienna, primarily under Anton Hoffmann and also with Gabriel Lembock.
• Collaboration: He collaborated with Professor Hermann Ritter in the development and construction of the viola alta.

Legacy

• Awards: Karl Adam Horlein was frequently awarded prizes at exhibitions for his work, as mentioned by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff.
• Appointments: He was appointed as the court instrument maker to the Duke of Sachsen-Meiningen.
• Documentation: A biography featuring his picture was published in de Wit's Zeitschr. f. d. Instr. 1902. No. 14.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: Karl Adam Horlein established his first workshop in Kitzingen, Bavaria, in 1853, before relocating to Würzburg in 1866.
• Labels: Examples of his labels include:
  • "K. A. Hörlein invenit / Würzburg Hermann Ritter invenit: privileg. No. 260 / K. A. Hörlein fecit Würzburg, 1891."
  • "Karl Adam Hörlein / fecit in Kitzingen 1857"
  • A manuscript label reading: "Repariert von K. A. Hörlein / in Kitzingen 1853"
• Technical References: The principles for his viola alta were detailed in the book "Die Geschichte der Viola Alta" (Leipzig, 1877).

Summary

Karl Adam Horlein (1829-1902) was a distinguished German luthier, born in Winkelhof and active in Kitzingen and Würzburg. A pupil of Joseph Vauchel, he further honed his skills working with Anton Hoffmann and Gabriel Lembock in Vienna. Horlein established his own workshop in Kitzingen in 1853, later moving to Würzburg in 1866. He was renowned for his fine workmanship, crafting instruments based on both personal and Stradivari-derived models, utilizing both oil and spirit varnishes. Notably, he was the first to construct the innovative viola alta according to the designs of Professor Hermann Ritter. Horlein's reputation extended to his work as a repairer for the Duke of Sachsen-Meiningen, and his instruments frequently received awards at exhibitions.