Andreas Jais

History

Andreas Jais (1685-1753) was born in 1685 in Mittenwald, Germany, and died in 1753 in Tölz. He was the son of Georg Jais and Katharina. As early as 1707, he was identified as a lutenist and, while still unmarried, crafted a violoncello for the dealer J. Baader. In 1709, he became godfather to Johann Carl Klotz, the son of Mathias Klotz. Soon after, he relocated to Tölz, where he married Anna Lerch on June 22, 1711; she later died in childbirth on June 23, 1718. Following his wife's death, he entered a second marriage on August 16, 1718, with Elisabeth Leer from Wolfrathshausen, who passed away in 1759. He was active in Tölz from 1711 and was highly esteemed during his lifetime, being explicitly called an "Künstler" (artist) in the Tölz church records, as noted in the Antiquitäten-Zeitung of 1902, No. 5.

Craft

• Model: His instruments featured a highly arched Stainer model.
• Workmanship: He was known for fine workmanship, sometimes incorporating ornately carved heads and, occasionally, painted purfling. His lion's heads (Löwenköpfchen) on the pegbox were particularly beautiful.
• Varnish: He used a thin red varnish of good quality.
• Instruments Produced: Andreas Jais made violins, lutes, viole d'amore, violas, and violoncellos.

Influence

• Teacher: Andreas Jais was a pupil of Matthias Klotz.
• Connections: He was godfather to Johann Carl Klotz, the son of his teacher.

Legacy

• Family: He had six sons.
• Recognition: During his lifetime, he was highly regarded, being explicitly referred to as an "Künstler" (artist) in the Tölz church records.
• Notable Instruments: A violoncello from 1707 is owned by the violin dealer Joh. Bader.

Further Information

• Workshop Location: He was active in Tölz, Germany.
• Label Inscription: An example of his label reads: "Andreas Jaiss Lautten- / macher in Tölz. Ao. 1739".
• References: Further information can be found in the Antiquitäten-Zeitung 1902, No. 5.

Summary

Andreas Jais (1685-1753) was a German luthier born in Mittenwald and active in Tölz from 1711, where he died. A pupil of Matthias Klotz, he was known for his highly arched Stainer model instruments, fine workmanship often featuring carved heads and painted purfling, and a good quality thin red varnish. He crafted violins, lutes, viole d'amore, violas, and violoncellos, and was highly esteemed during his lifetime, being referred to as an "Künstler" in Tölz church records.