Bela Farkas

John Dilworth

FARKAS, Béla Born 1903 Nagyigmánd, died 1970 Györ Hungary. Musical ambitions dashed by World War I. Apprenticed to József Metzker. In 1919 moved to D. Barany in Budapest. Then worked for J. Stubiger in Vienna, E. Pliverics in Berlin, subsequently in the Hague, Turin, Milan, Lyon, and for G. Tanczer and J. Lenhardt in Pecs. Established his own business in Györ-Ujvaros at 94 Kossuth Lajos Street 1925 where he remained until 1941. In that year he received a government loan to start another business in Kisfaludy street, which was destroyed shortly afterwards by wartime actions. Following the 1956 Hungarian uprising he exhibited a quartet at Liège in 1958, winning third prize. Worked alone throughout his career. Awarded ‘Silver Wreath’ at the 1937 State Handwork Exhibition, winning the ‘Gold Wreath’ subsequently. Other awards gained in Paris 1937, Berlin 1938, and New York 1939. Credited with over 200 instruments; Stradivari and Guarneri models with ebony purfling and orange-red varnish. Some personal models, and some comparatively coarse examples. Fecit / Farkas / Bela / Györ. 1941 Fecit Deo adiuvante ad gloriam / patriae Hungariae / Farkas Béla / Györ, 1946. Op.126 Farkas Béla [Benedek]