Samuel Nemessanyi

History

Samuel Nemessanyi (1837-1881) was born in 1837. Sources contain conflicting information about his birthplace; John Dilworth states Verbicz-Husták, while Willibald Leo Lütgendorff indicates Eperies. He died in 1881 in Budapest, Hungary. Nemessanyi moved to Budapest in 1855 and trained with J. B. Schweitzer and T. Zach. He was employed by A. Sitt in Prague from 1858, returning to Hungary the following year to Szeged. He worked in various towns in the region before receiving his full guild membership in 1863. He then moved back to Budapest, settling briefly at 7 Hajó Street, and subsequently establishing himself at 4 Gránátos Street. After approximately 1875, he worked alone, moving first to Öz Street, then to 69 Kerepesi Street, and finally to 18 Nagyfúvaros Street. In his declining years, from around 1870, his consistency as a maker became less reliable.

Craft

• Workmanship: Samuel Nemessanyi's work is most often characterized by close copies of instruments by Stradivari and Guarneri. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that his copies of Italian masters, particularly Guarneri del Gesù, were scarcely distinguishable from the originals and very similar in tone.
• Production: He is credited with approximately 60 violins, four violas, and seven cellos.
• Quality: His violas are considered the least distinguished of his production.
• Varnish: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes his very good golden-yellow varnish.
• Consistency: From 1860 and again from 1870-1872, he resorted to importing superior commercial instruments, which he then varnished and finished. These instruments typically retain distinguishing features of their original factory and are discreetly marked with stock numbers on their labels.

Influence

• Training: Samuel Nemessanyi trained with J. B. Schweitzer and T. Zach.
• Employment: He was employed by A. Sitt in Prague from 1858.
• Pupils: While established at 4 Gránátos Street, he employed several distinguished pupils, including K. H. Voigt, Bela Szepessy, and E. Bartek.

Legacy

• Reputation: Samuel Nemessanyi is renowned as the finest Hungarian maker, and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff describes him as the most significant violin maker of Hungary in his time.
• Misattribution: Many of his copies of Italian masters have been falsely or erroneously re-labeled as originals, making authentic labeled examples quite rare.
• Value: According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, violins by Nemessanyi were rarely available for less than 500 Marks.

Further Information

• Branding: Some instruments are branded 'NS'.
• Labels: Labels after 1871 feature larger print than earlier examples.
• Label Inscriptions: Examples of his labels include 'Samuel Nemessányi fecit ad formam / Joseph Guarnerii pestini anno 1877', 'Samuel Nemessányi fecit Pestini 1874', and 'Samuel Nemessányi fecit ad formam / Antonio Stradiuarii Pestini 1865'.

Summary

Samuel Nemessanyi (1837-1881) was a highly regarded Hungarian violin maker, considered the finest of his era. He trained with J. B. Schweitzer and T. Zach, and later employed notable pupils. Nemessanyi was particularly known for his close copies of Stradivari and Guarneri instruments, many of which were so convincing they were often re-labeled as originals. His production included approximately 60 violins, four violas, and seven cellos, and he was noted for his golden-yellow varnish. In later years, he also finished and varnished imported commercial instruments.