Joseph (Pierre Joseph) Hel

History

Joseph (Pierre Joseph) Hel (1842-1902) was born on February 8, 1842, in Mazirot, near Mirecourt, in the Vosges region of France. He undertook an apprenticeship with Salzard in Mirecourt for seven years, learning the craft of violin making. Following this, he worked for two years with Sébastien Vuillaume in Paris. In 1864-1865, he worked with N. Darche in Aix-la-Chapelle. In 1865, Joseph Hel established his own independent workshop in Lille, France. He was responsible for carrying out restoration work for the Lille Conservatoire and also for the Glasgow dealer David Laurie from approximately 1880. Joseph Hel died in 1902 in Lille, France.

Craft

• Workmanship: Joseph Hel was an excellent workman who made all his instruments himself. He was credited with producing over 800 instruments. His instruments are noted for their beautiful pattern and good tone, with all details carefully finished.
• Copies: He made very superior copies of instruments by great Italian masters, primarily Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati, and Maggini, often in the style of Vuillaume.
• Varnish: Hel paid particular attention to his varnish, which he understood how to bring very close in appearance to Cremonese examples. He used oil varnish.
• Wood Treatment: He developed a special method for seasoning the wood he used, which involved removing elements that interfere with tone without the use of fire or acids.
• Inventions: Joseph Hel invented an extension spike for the violoncello and an ingenious and practical method for fixing pegs, which allowed for gradual tightening of strings and prevented sudden slippage, all while maintaining the traditional head shape.

Influence

• Apprenticeship: Joseph Hel was apprenticed to Salzard in Mirecourt for seven years.
• Mentorship: He worked for two years with Sébastien Vuillaume in Paris.
• Professional Experience: He also worked with N. Darche in Aix-la-Chapelle from 1864 to 1865.

Legacy

• Awards: Joseph Hel received numerous awards at various European and American exhibitions, including a gold medal in Lille (1882), a diploma of honour in St. Omer (1884), a gold medal in Antwerp (1885), a gold medal in Liverpool (1886), and a gold medal in Paris (1889).
• Recognition: He was made an "Officier de l'Academie" and served as "Luthier to the Lille Conservatoire."
• Jury Service: He was repeatedly called upon as a juror for exhibitions, serving at the Münich Exhibition (1893), Chicago (1893), and Bordeaux (1895), which prevented him from competing at these events.

Further Information

• Workshop Location: Joseph Hel's business was established at 14, rue Nationale, Lille.
• Branding: His instruments were sometimes branded above the endpin with 'J. Hel à Lille'.
• Labels: Printed labels found in his instruments include "Joseph Hel / Luthier à Lille. 1893".

Summary

Joseph (Pierre Joseph) Hel (1842-1902) was a highly acclaimed French luthier born in Mazirot. After apprenticeships with Salzard and working with Sébastien Vuillaume and N. Darche, he established his own workshop in Lille in 1865. Renowned for his superior copies of Italian masters like Stradivari and Guarneri, he was credited with over 800 instruments, all crafted with meticulous attention to detail, including his unique wood seasoning method and oil varnish. Hel received numerous awards at international exhibitions, was made an "Officier de l'Academie," and served as "Luthier to the Lille Conservatoire." He also invented a cello extension spike and an improved peg-fixing mechanism.