Sebastian Schelle

History

Sebastian SCHELLE (circa 1700-1750) was a prominent lute and violin maker who worked in Nuremberg, Germany. He is noted as a pupil of Matthias Hummel and is considered the most significant Nuremberg lute and violin maker of his era. According to a quote from Baron in Willibald Leo Lütgendorff's Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart, M. Hummel was Schelle's teacher, and Schelle profited so much from him that his work became highly regarded in Italy, France, Upper and Lower Germany, and other cultivated parts of Europe. Baron further states that Schelle's lutes were often so well made that masters who acquired them at a reasonable price sometimes had the good fortune to resell them to connoisseurs and enthusiasts after playing them in. A violin in London, held by Withers, bears a written label reading "Sebastianus Schelle Cremona 1701", which, if authentic, suggests he may have worked in Cremona during his journeyman years.

Craft

• Workmanship: Sebastian Schelle's instruments are characterized by very fine work.
• Models: He often followed the Stainer model for violins. John Dilworth notes that Hamma illustrates a beautiful Rogeri-like cello by Schelle.
• Design Elements: His soundholes feature rounded wings and graceful points extending into the circles. The cello head is described as having characteristically German sloping shoulders.
• Varnish: Instruments typically exhibit a thin, golden-brown varnish that is not fully transparent.
• Construction Philosophy: According to Baron, Schelle's instruments are of medium size, suitable for most players, and possess beautiful and accurate proportions in their construction and string setup. They are described as flat, broad-grained, elongated, and capable of projecting sound far.
• Materials: Schelle maintained a large stock of rare, dry, and beautiful wood, which was ideally suited for instrument making.

Influence

• Mentorship: Sebastian Schelle was a pupil of Matthias Hummel, a significant influence on his development as a luthier.

Legacy

• Museum Holdings: An instrument dated 1727 is part of the Paris Conservatoire Collection. The Städtische Museum Carolino-Augusteum in Salzburg holds a work from 1719. The Germanische Museum in Nuremberg possesses a lute from 1744.
• Repairs: Several instruments repaired by Schelle are housed in the royal collection of old musical instruments in Berlin.

Further Information

• Label Information: A typical label found on his instruments reads: "Sebastian Schelle / Lauten und Geigenmacher / in Niirnberg. Hummels / Erben An. 1744".
• Instrument Types: He was a maker of lutes and violins, with specific examples including a theorbed lute from 1727 and a lute from 1744.
• Rarity: His instruments are considered quite rare, with the possibility that many may have been falsely re-labelled over time.

Summary

Sebastian Schelle (circa 1700-1750) was a highly regarded lute and violin maker from Nuremberg, Germany, and a pupil of Matthias Hummel. His instruments, known for their fine craftsmanship, often followed the Stainer model for violins and featured distinctive soundholes and a thin, golden-brown varnish. Schelle's work was celebrated across Europe for its excellent proportions, sound projection, and the use of high-quality, seasoned woods. His instruments are rare and are preserved in notable collections such as the Paris Conservatoire and the Germanische Museum in Nuremberg.