A beautifully preserved violin with a one piece birdseye maple back in collectable condition by Pierre Joseph Hel, made in Lille 1884.

In 1856, at the age of fourteen, Pierre Joseph Hel began his 5-year apprenticeship as a violin maker in Mirecourt under the direction of Francois Salzard and then proceeded to work in Paris for Sébastien Vuillaume in Paris and Nicolas Darche. Between 1861-1865, he worked in numerous workshops in Mirecourt. In 1865, with the encouragement of Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, Hel relocated to Lille to establish his own workshop, which he managed until his passing in 1902. It was in Lille that he also became the luthier for the Conservatory of Music. read more…

• Made in 1884 – Lille France
• Labeled: Fait Par J. Hel 
• 359mm Length of Back
• Condition: Excellent, no cracks, only normal wear to varnish. 

A violin by Pierre Hel can be viewed here…