Béla Szepessy

Zepsy Bela was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1856.

From 1868 to 1874 he studied violin making under Aloys Engleder (1812-1883) and Samuel Nemessányi (1837-1881).

From 1874 he worked for Thomas Zach (1812-1892) in Vienna for about six years.

He is said to have worked in Munich from 1879 onwards, but no reliable records remain.

In 1882, at the age of 25, he moved to London via Brussels, where he remained active for the next 40 years.

A hard worker, Bellah became well known in London as a violin maker, repairer and appraiser, and his instruments fetched high prices and were used by famous performers.

Around 1884, he began to write production numbers on his instruments, and there are records up to #218, which was made in 1916.

I usually made them using Guarneri models, but I also made them using Strad, Amati, and my teacher Nemezany models.

The instrument may have a pencil signature or multiple labels inside, may have a dark wood lining, and is varnished with a very soft varnish, often a deep red like burgundy.

Around 1916, his health began to decline and he moved to Tyrol, where he retired from craftsmanship.

He died in Tyrol in 1925 (age 69).

Quotes《The Brompton's Book of Violin and Bow Makers》《Ungarischer Geigenbau》