Pierre Jean Henri Hel
Lille, 1884–1931
Violin and bow maker. Son, pupil, and successor of Joseph Hel, above. Credited with over 400 violins, violas, and cellos on Stradivari, Amati, and Guarneri models. Developed his personal model in 1923 for Georges Enesco. Fine red and orange-red varnish of rich texture. — John Dilworth
Worked
Lille
Made
Cello, Cello Bow, Violin, Violin Bow
Family
Son of Joseph Hel
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
£54,927
148 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 20 and brands, bass bar crack Lot 305 | — | December 2025 | £8,770est. € 8.000-10.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Stradiuarius Moderne Fait par J. Hel Luthier du Conservatoire de Lille No. 149 1888 Lot 184 | — | November 2025 | £19,333est. $ 15,000-22,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Exposition D'Anvers 1885, Médaille D'Or, Stradiuarius moderne, Fait par J. Hel, Luthier de ... Lot 194 | — | November 2025 | £22,632est. $ 25,000-40,000 |
| Viola | Labelled Joseph Hel Luthier à Lille 1885, inscribed ... de Lille N° 15 le 28 Janvier 1885, 14 rue National Lot 27 | — | September 2025 | £15,454est. € 10.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel Luthier a Lille 1900, stamped to the inside back Exposition Universelle Paris 1889 Lot 159 | — | May 2025 | £13,133est. € 12.000-18.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel luthier du, Conservatoire à, Lille en l'an 1922, inscribed Fait par Pierre Hel ... Lot 182 | Tarisio | November 2024 | £13,904est. $ 18,000-25,000 |
| Violin Bow | A silver-mounted violin bow by Pierre Hel, Lille, circa 1910 Lot 73 | Amati | October 2024 | £6,004est. £ 1,500-2,500 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel, luthier du Conservatoire, de musique, à Lille, branded to the lower ribs P. Hel Lille Lot 151 | Tarisio | October 2024 | £9,865est. € 15.000-22.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel luthier du, Conservatoire à, Lille en l'an 1925, inscribed to the inside back 302 Lot 88 | Tarisio | October 2024 | £21,240est. £ 18,000-25,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 284 and signatures to the table and back, good condition Lot 10 | Laurent | June 2024 | £15,955est. € 15.000-18.000 |
| Violin | Louvois-Hel family collection, bearing the maker's label n. 355 and signature, good condition Lot 160 | — | November 2023 | £13,348est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Louvois-Hel family collection, bearing the maker's label n. 14 and brands, good condition Lot 170 | — | November 2023 | £6,703est. € 8.000-10.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel Luthier du Conservatoire à Lille en l'an 1928, branded to the lower rib P. Hell Lille Lot 175 | — | November 2023 | £17,425est. $ 18,000-25,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel Luthier à Lille 1891, stamped Exposition Universelle Paris 1889 Médaille D'or Lot 176 | — | November 2023 | £26,622est. $ 20,000-30,000 |
| Violin | Louvois-Hel family collection, bearing the maker's label n. 546 and brands, good condition Lot 25 | — | November 2023 | £16,217est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Louvois-Hel family collection, bearing the maker's label n. 589 and signatures, table sound post crack Lot 70 | — | November 2023 | £10,011est. € 10.000-12.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel, Luthier a Lille 1899, branded Exposition Universelle Paris 1889 Médaille d'or Lot 112 | — | October 2023 | £24,054est. € 12.000-18.000 |
| Violin | Louvois-Hel family collection, bearing the maker's label n. 133 and signatures, minor table crack Lot 170 | — | June 2023 | £27,784est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Louvois-Hel family collection, bearing the maker's label n. 401 and signatures, good condition Lot 205 | — | June 2023 | £10,997est. € 8.000-10.000 |
| Small Violin | Louvois-Hel family collection, 3/4 size violin, fingerboard missing, good condition Lot 265 | — | June 2023 | £11,755est. € 4.000-5.000 |
| Violin | Louvois-Hel family collection, bearing the maker's label n. 395, varnish and head blemishes Lot 310 | — | June 2023 | £12,824est. € 8.000-10.000 |
| Viola | Bearing the maker's label n. 287 and signatures to the table and back, fair condition Lot 320 | — | June 2023 | £25,647est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 270 and signatures, one upper rib and lower block missing Lot 358 | — | June 2023 | £9,083est. € 5.000-6.000 |
| Cello | Bearing the maker's label n. 424 and signatures, unvarnished Lot 360 | — | June 2023 | £24,579est. € 10.000-12.000 |
| Violin | From Louvois-Hel family, first numbered violin, bearing the maker's label, very good condition Lot 60 | — | June 2023 | £13,892est. € 10.000-12.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel, Luthier a Lille 1889, branded to the back Exposition d'Anvers 1885, Medaille d'Or Lot 89 | — | June 2023 | £30,861est. € 12.000-18.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 222 and signature to the table and back, neck blemish, minor table crack Lot 20 | — | December 2022 | £12,854est. € 10.000-12.000 |
| Viola | Calas collection, bearing the maker's label n. 29 and signatures to the table and back, table crack Lot 60 | — | December 2022 | £18,209est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 297 and brands, good condition Lot 255 | — | June 2022 | £25,358est. € 18.000-20.000 |
| Violin | Maggini model, bearing the maker's label n. 293 and brand, fair condition Lot 353 | — | June 2022 | £8,698est. € 8.000-10.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 103, some table restorations, minor table blemish Lot 360 | — | June 2022 | £27,471est. € 13.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Two-piece back of irregular curl, varnish of an orange colour on a golden ground, table crack Lot 230 | — | January 2022 | £22,059est. € 6.000-8.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 514 and signatures, fair condition Lot 160 | — | December 2021 | £20,053est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 273 and signature to the table and back, minor table restorations Lot 170 | — | December 2021 | £18,997est. € 14.000-16.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label and signatures to the table and back, minor table crack, table sound post crack Lot 325 | — | December 2021 | £17,942est. € 14.000-16.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Exposé à Paris en 1937, Pierre Hel Luthier du Conservatoire à Lille, en l'an 1934 Lot 15 | — | November 2021 | £14,400est. £ 15,000-22,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel, Luthier du Conservatoire de Musique, Lille 1904, inscribed above the label N° 59 Lot 4 | — | November 2021 | £13,200est. £ 10,000-15,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Fait par J. Hel, Luthier du Conservatoire, 14 Rue National, Lille, 1884 No. 93 Lot 120 | — | October 2021 | £9,134est. € 10.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label and signatures, minor varnish blemish to the back and a rib Lot 353 | — | June 2021 | £10,689est. € 10.000-12.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Fait par Hel, some table restorations Lot 365 | — | June 2021 | £9,192est. € 8.000-10.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hell Luthier du Conservatoire à Lille en l'an 1923, numbered 257 internally on the back Lot 8 | — | October 2020 | £19,200est. £ 16,000-20,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel, luthier à Lille 1901, fait pour son ami Debaene, branded to the rib J. Hel à Lille Lot 59 | — | July 2020 | £19,815est. $ 12,000-18,000 |
| Cello | Bearing the maker's label n. 196, table sound post crack, some ribs restorations Lot 110 | — | November 2019 | £42,054est. € 30.000-35.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 594 and signature to the table and back, back edges worm damage Lot 20 | — | November 2019 | £8,206est. € 7.000-8.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 342 and signature to the table and back, good condition Lot 25 | — | November 2019 | £8,206est. € 5.000-6.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 433 and brands, good condition Lot 310 | — | November 2019 | £13,334est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Stradivarius moderne, Fait par J. Hel, luthier du Conservatoire de Lille ..., very fine condition Lot 181 | — | October 2019 | £22,800est. £ 18,000-25,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel, Luthier à Lille, 1893, stamped Exposition Universelle Paris 1889 Medaille d'Or Lot 20 | — | October 2019 | £19,200est. £ 15,000-20,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Stradivarius moderne, Fait par J. Hel, Luthier du Conservatoire de Lille, No. 43 1883 ... Lot 61 | — | October 2019 | £19,200est. £ 14,000-18,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 421 and signature to the table and back, good condition Lot 165 | — | June 2019 | £20,194est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 28 and signature to the back, some table cracks, lower rib blemishes Lot 255 | — | June 2019 | £7,546est. € 7.000-8.000 |
| Violin | Two-piece back of regular curl, varnish of a red brown colour on a golden ground, varnish blemish Lot 56 | — | May 2019 | £9,179est. € 6.000-8.000 |
| Violin | Labelled D'après le Stradivarius d'Alard 1715, Pierre Hel luthier du, conservatoire à, Lille en l'an 1932 Lot 208 | — | March 2019 | £12,000est. £ 15,000-22,000 |
| Violin | Millant collection, bearing the maker's label n. 262, signatures on the belly and back, good condition Lot 184 | — | December 2018 | £21,011est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 374 and brand, good condition Lot 215 | — | December 2018 | £14,965est. € 15.000-18.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Exposition D'Anvers 1885, Médaille D'Or, Stradiuarius moderne, Fait par J. Hel, Luthier de ... Lot 244 | — | November 2018 | £21,009est. $ 25,000-40,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel, luthier à Lille 1885, inscribed Fait par J. Hel, luthier du conservatoire de ... Lot 186 | — | October 2018 | £10,800est. £ 6,000-9,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel, luthier à Lille 1899, stamped Exposition universelle Paris 1889, médaille d'or Lot 149 | — | June 2018 | £18,000est. £ 6,000-9,000 |
| Violin | Stradivari model, bearing the maker's label n. 58, minor table sound post crack Lot 401 | — | June 2018 | £14,722est. € 14.000-16.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Stradiuarius moderne, fait par J. Hel, luthier a Lille, no 213 1894 Lot 151 | — | March 2018 | £21,600est. £ 8,000-12,000 |
| Viola | Labelled Fait par Hel, luthier du conservatoire de Musique, 23 Rue de la Gare, Lille, 1878, N. 11 Lot 19 | — | March 2018 | £14,160est. £ 12,000-18,000 |
| Violin | Guarneri del Gesù model, bearing the maker's label n. 134 and signature, good condition Lot 60 | — | November 2017 | £17,952est. € 14.000-16.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel, Luthier à LILLE 1897 Lot 50 | — | October 2017 | £15,000est. £ 15,000-20,000 |
| Violin | Guarneri del Gesù model, bearing the maker's label n. 642 and signatures, good condition Lot 252 | — | June 2017 | £12,528est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label and signatures, good condition Lot 270 | — | June 2017 | £12,528est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph HEL / Luthier à LILLE 1891., stamped Exposition Universelle Paris ..., good condition Lot 195 | — | May 2017 | £25,898est. $ 15,000-20,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel Luthier à Lille 1893, signed, dated and numbered 325 internally on the back, branded Lot 65 | — | March 2017 | £7,200est. £ 6,000-8,000 |
| Cello | Made for Mr. Pages de Castres, bearing the maker's label, bass bar crack, some table restorations Lot 160 | — | December 2016 | £36,556est. € 35.000-40.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label and brand to the lower rib, minor table restorations Lot 320 | — | December 2016 | £9,647est. € 10.000-12.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label and signature internally, table sound post crack Lot 155 | — | June 2016 | £8,486est. € 10.000-12.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel, Luthier du Conservatoire a Lille en L'an 1922, PH, excellent condition Lot 47 | — | June 2016 | £7,800est. £ 8,000-10,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel Luthier du ..., very minor repair to rib at hand position, otherwise excellent condition Lot 216 | — | March 2016 | £9,000est. £ 8,000-10,000 |
| Violin | Pictured in The Eternal Influence of Antonio Stradivari Ealing Strings, London 1987, p. 118-119 Lot 66 | — | March 2016 | £9,000est. £ 8,000-10,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel, Luthier du, conservatoire à Lille, en l'an 1933, branded to the inside back and the rib Lot 111 | — | February 2016 | £7,624est. $ 10,000-15,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label and brand to the back and lower ribs, good condition Lot 160 | — | December 2015 | £10,223est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 366 and signatures, good condition Lot 75 | — | December 2015 | £8,519est. € 10.000-12.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel Luthier du conservatoire a Lille en l'an 1920, inscribed Fait par Pierre Hel luthier ... Lot 113 | — | November 2015 | £8,400est. £ 7,000-10,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Stradiuarius moderne, Fait par J. Hel, Luthier du Conservatoire de Lille, No. 6 1881 Lot 133 | — | November 2015 | £19,200est. £ 10,000-15,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label and brand to the lower rib, minor varnish blemish, otherwise good condition Lot 310 | — | June 2015 | £10,511est. € 10.000-12.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n° 115 and signatures internally to the table and back, good condition Lot 325 | — | June 2015 | £7,883est. € 8.000-10.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel Luthier du conservatoire a Lille en L'an 1923, numbered internally 260, branded Lot 561 | — | June 2015 | £7,200est. £ 6,000-8,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the original label Pierre Hel, Luthier du Conservatoire de Musique Lille, signed internally Lot 230 | — | March 2015 | £6,000est. £ 6,000-10,000 |
| Cello | Labelled Joseph Hel, Luthier à Lille Année 1888 Lot 29 | — | March 2015 | £15,600est. £ 15,000-22,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel Luthier à Lille 1896, 304, stamped Exposition Universelle Paris 1889, Médaille ... Lot 39 | — | March 2015 | £10,800est. £ 8,000-12,000 |
| Violin | Maggini model, bearing the maker's label n° 318 and signature to the table and back, good condition Lot 10 | — | December 2014 | £4,709est. € 5.000-6.000 |
| Violin | Bearing an original label and signed internally J. Hel ... Lille 1885, excellent condition Lot 78 | — | December 2014 | £9,600est. £ 12,000-18,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel, Luthier du Conservatoire de Musique, 1905, Lille Lot 180 | — | October 2014 | £9,440est. £ 8,000-12,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel, Luthier à Lille 1894, ink stamped Exposition Universelle Paris 1889 Médaille D'or Lot 181 | — | October 2014 | £7,670est. £ 8,000-12,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel, Luthier a Lille, 1901, and The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., Experts in Old Violins ... Lot 260 | — | October 2014 | £7,379est. $ 15,000-22,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel, Luthier du Conservatoire a Lille, en l'an 1910 PH, inscribed Pierre Hel, Luthier a ... Lot 300 | — | October 2014 | £6,600est. £ 4,000-6,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n° 280 and brand to the lower rib, minor table restoration Lot 310 | — | June 2014 | £14,513est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel luthier du Conservatoire à Lille en l'an 1920 Lot 271 | — | May 2014 | £21,232est. $ 30,000-50,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n° 258, branded to the lower rib, some table restorations, minor back restoration Lot 155 | — | December 2013 | £19,576est. € 15.000-18.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n° 192 and signatures, good condition Lot 260 | — | December 2013 | £22,894est. € 14.000-16.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel, Luthier du Conservatoire a Lille en l'an, 1927, branded to the rib P. Hel A Lille Lot 286 | — | October 2013 | £22,579est. $ 30,000-50,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Stradiuarius Moderne Fait par J Hel luthier du Conservatoire de Lille no 23 1883 Lot 29 | — | October 2013 | £13,200est. £ 8,000-12,000 |
| Violin | N° 292 Lot 40 | — | October 2013 | £13,875est. € 8.000-10.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel, Luthier du Conservatoire à Lille, en l'an 1911 Lot 6 | — | October 2013 | £10,800est. £ 10,000-15,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joseph Hel luthier a Lille 1890, branded internally, minor repairs to table Lot 113 | — | December 2012 | £8,400est. £ 7,000-10,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n° 230 and brand to the lower rib, two table cracks Lot 120 | — | December 2012 | £13,659est. € 10.000-12.000 |
| Violin | Guarneri del Gesù model, bearing the maker's label n° 115 and signature, lower rib restorations Lot 215 | — | December 2012 | £9,756est. € 10.000-12.000 |
| Cello | Labelled Fait par J. Hel, Luthier di Conservatoire, 14, Rue Nationale, Lille, 1882, No 14 Lot 132 | — | November 2012 | £54,927est. $ 80,000-120,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Pierre Hel, Lille, 1902, inscribed Pierre Hel luthier de Conservatoire de musique de Lille ... Lot 347 | — | November 2012 | £14,980est. $ 20,000-30,000 |
| Cello | Inscribed and numbered internally, of an aged red golden brown colour, use wear and restorations Lot 47 | — | October 2012 | £9,000 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 56 g. | — | June 2011 | £720 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Lille, 1924 | — | June 2011 | £9,368 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Lille, 1930 | — | June 2009 | £2,282 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Lille, 1925 | — | March 2009 | £8,125 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Lille, 1906 | — | March 2009 | £9,375 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Lille, 1923 #544 Workshop | — | October 2008 | £5,912 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Lille, 1901, after "Amati" | — | October 2008 | £13,750 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Lille, 1905 | — | June 2008 | £5,187 |
| Cello | 75.3 cm Lille, 1923 Workshop of | — | March 2008 | £4,750 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Lille, 1932 Workshop of | — | July 2007 | £2,103 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Lille, 1911 #176 | — | February 2006 | £9,000 |
| Violin | Lille, 1907 #119 | — | December 2005 | £7,982 |
| Violin | 1928 | — | October 2005 | £10,183 |
| Cello | Lille, 1920 | — | May 2005 | £10,091 |
| Violin | 1899 | — | November 2003 | £2,160 |
| Violin | 1936 | — | November 2003 | £10,575 |
| Violin | 1901 | — | November 2003 | £9,988 |
| Violin | 1927 | — | October 2002 | £13,002 |
| Violin | 1901 | — | June 2002 | £10,755 |
| Cello | 1867 | — | March 2002 | £16,025 |
| Violin | 1923 | — | June 2001 | £8,936 |
| Violin | 1882 | — | June 2001 | £7,986 |
| Violin | 1930 | — | May 2001 | £7,801 |
| Violin | 1911 | — | November 2000 | £5,810 |
| Violin | 1924 | — | November 2000 | £13,634 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 77 g. | — | March 2000 | £1,840 |
| Violin | 1920 | — | November 1999 | £9,775 |
| Violin | 1903 | — | June 1999 | £6,325 |
| Violin | 1903 | — | March 1999 | £2,185 |
| Violin | 1893 | — | November 1998 | £8,625 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 68 g. | — | November 1996 | £662 |
| Violin | 1903 | — | May 1996 | £8,268 |
| Violin Bow | G/T 62 g. | — | June 1995 | £3,680 |
| Violin | 1924 | — | July 1993 | £12,650 |
| Violin | 1889 | — | April 1993 | £13,225 |
| Violin | 1902 | — | April 1993 | £12,650 |
| Cello Bow | G/E 70 g. | — | November 1992 | £1,210 |
| Violin | 1920 | — | June 1991 | £7,150 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | June 1991 | £1,980 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 62 g. | — | March 1990 | £660 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 64 g. | — | March 1988 | £715 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 75 g. | — | December 1987 | £440 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 74 g. | — | November 1985 | £495 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | November 1980 | £330 |
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Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
HEL, Pierre Jean Henri Born 1884, died 1931 Lille France. Violin and bow maker. Son, pupil, and successor of Joseph Hel, above. Credited with over 400 violins, violas, and cellos on Stradivari, Amati, and Guarneri models. Developed his personal model in 1923 for Georges Enesco. Fine red and orange-red varnish of rich texture. A decorated violin he dubbed ‘le Rossignol’ (the nightingale) shown at the Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris 1924. Diplomas at the St. Louis and Milan exhibitions 1904 and 1906. More commercial student quality work produced in his shop by his staff. Fine bows, branded: ‘PIERRE HEL’. Printed label: Pierre Hel Luthier du / Conservatoire à P.H. / Lille en l’an 1923
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