Georg (George) Gemünder (13 April 1816 Ingelfingen - 15 January 1899) was a German-born American violin maker who worked in Boston, Massachusetts, and later, Astoria, New York. With his brother August and others, he pioneered the construction of quality violins in the United States.[1]
He was a pupil of Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume in Paris, and moved to the United States in 1847, establishing himself in Boston. In 1851, one of his violins won a medal at the World's Fair in London. In 1852, he moved to Astoria, now part of New York City. Vuillaume, and other European makers violin makers often applied chemicals to their instruments to produce a pseudo-antique look and—some believed—a desirable tone quality. Gemünder, however, felt that wood so treated would soon lose its resonance and render treated instruments worthless. Gemünder succeeded in making excellent violins without chemical treatments. His violins are highly regarded for their volume, power, balance, and overall tone, and have been favorable compared to the work of the best old masters.[according to whom?]
He was unusually successful in the model and finish of his instruments, and especially the varnish. He so faithfully reproduced the distinctive characteristics of old Italian violins that those made by him are not infrequently mistaken for genuine Cremonas. At the Vienna exhibition of 1873, Gemünder's violin the "Kaiser" fooled the judges, who assumed it was an Italian violin from the classical period, and therefore ineligible for prizes.[2] Gemünder also received medals from exhibitions held in Paris (1867), New York (1870), Vienna (1873), Philadelphia (1876 “hors concours”), Amsterdam (1883), Nice (1883-1884), London (1884), New Orleans (1884-1885 “hors concours”), and London (1885).
He wrote a book called Georg Gemünder's Progress in Violin-making (Astoria, New York, 1881), to which he prefixed an autobiographical sketch.
Notesedit
^Frederick H. Martens (1931). "Gemünder, August Martin Ludwig". Dictionary of American Biography. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
^Baumert, Thomas. "George Gemünder." In Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present, vol. 2, edited by William J. Hausman. German Historical Institute. Last modified September 05, 2013.
george, gemünder, georg, george, gemünder, april, 1816, ingelfingen, january, 1899, german, born, american, violin, maker, worked, boston, massachusetts, later, astoria, york, with, brother, august, others, pioneered, construction, quality, violins, united, st. Georg George Gemunder 13 April 1816 Ingelfingen 15 January 1899 was a German born American violin maker who worked in Boston Massachusetts and later Astoria New York With his brother August and others he pioneered the construction of quality violins in the United States 1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksBiography editHe was a pupil of Jean Baptiste Vuillaume in Paris and moved to the United States in 1847 establishing himself in Boston In 1851 one of his violins won a medal at the World s Fair in London In 1852 he moved to Astoria now part of New York City Vuillaume and other European makers violin makers often applied chemicals to their instruments to produce a pseudo antique look and some believed a desirable tone quality Gemunder however felt that wood so treated would soon lose its resonance and render treated instruments worthless Gemunder succeeded in making excellent violins without chemical treatments His violins are highly regarded for their volume power balance and overall tone and have been favorable compared to the work of the best old masters according to whom He was unusually successful in the model and finish of his instruments and especially the varnish He so faithfully reproduced the distinctive characteristics of old Italian violins that those made by him are not infrequently mistaken for genuine Cremonas At the Vienna exhibition of 1873 Gemunder s violin the Kaiser fooled the judges who assumed it was an Italian violin from the classical period and therefore ineligible for prizes 2 Gemunder also received medals from exhibitions held in Paris 1867 New York 1870 Vienna 1873 Philadelphia 1876 hors concours Amsterdam 1883 Nice 1883 1884 London 1884 New Orleans 1884 1885 hors concours and London 1885 He wrote a book called Georg Gemunder s Progress in Violin making Astoria New York 1881 to which he prefixed an autobiographical sketch Notes edit Frederick H Martens 1931 Gemunder August Martin Ludwig Dictionary of American Biography New York Charles Scribner s Sons Baumert Thomas George Gemunder In Immigrant Entrepreneurship German American Business Biographies 1720 to the Present vol 2 edited by William J Hausman German Historical Institute Last modified September 05 2013 References editWilson J G Fiske J eds 1900 Gemunder August Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography New York D Appleton Gilman D C Peck H T Colby F M eds 1905 Gemunder George New International Encyclopedia 1st ed New York Dodd Mead External links editWorks by George Gemunder at Project Gutenberg Works by or about George Gemunder at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Gemunder amp oldid 1178320709, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
