Who he was
Wilhelm Hermann Hammig was born in Markneukirchen in Saxony, a town with a long and respected history of violin making. He later settled in Leipzig, where he developed a reputation as both a maker and a trusted authority on older instruments.
Trained by his father, Wilhelm August Hammig, he combined family tradition with experience gained through work and travel before establishing himself professionally.
His career reflects a balance between regional craft and the demands of a major musical city. Markneukirchen shaped his technical foundations. Leipzig shaped his professional standing.
Quick facts
- Born: 1838, Markneukirchen
- Died: 1925, Leipzig
- Training: Son and pupil of Wilhelm August Hammig
- Speciality: Violins and bows
- Berlin branch: Opened in 1894
Career timeline
- Worked for Carl Grimm in Berlin from around 1850
- Later worked in Amsterdam
- Returned to Markneukirchen in 1864
- Spent two years in Frankfurt between 1873 and 1875
- Settled in Leipzig and worked in connection with the Conservatoire and the Gewandhaus
- Opened a Berlin branch on Potsdamer Strasse in 1894
Work and identification
Hammig was known for his understanding of older instruments and for producing violins based on classical models. His work shows careful proportions and restraint rather than decorative excess.
- Violins: typically branded internally with W. H. Hammig
- Bows: commonly marked HAMMIG LEIPZIG
As with many makers from Markneukirchen and Leipzig, instruments bearing his name can range from workshop production to finer individual examples. Construction details matter more than the label alone.
Connecting the maker to real instruments
A violin labelled Leipzig in the early 1890s fits Hammig’s established period in the city.
An example dated 1892 belongs to the later part of his working life, when experience and consistency defined his output.
I currently have violins by Wilhelm Hermann Hammig available, including examples from this later period. If you would like detailed photographs, condition reports, measurements, or playing videos, please get in touch.
Enquiries are welcome from players, collectors, and those seeking historically grounded German instruments.
If you are a serious buyer, or you would like to learn more, please contact me via the enquiry page:
Contact.
Photo gallery
Sources and further reading
The following references and institutions provide historical context for Wilhelm Hermann Hammig, the Markneukirchen violin making tradition, and the musical environment of Leipzig in the nineteenth century.
- Tarisio Cozio Archive, Wilhelm Hermann Hammig
https://tarisio.com/cozio-archive - Amati, maker profile: Wilhelm Hermann Hammig
https://amati.com - City of Markneukirchen (official website)
https://markneukirchen.de - Musikinstrumenten Museum Markneukirchen
https://museum-markneukirchen.de - Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, history
https://www.gewandhausorchester.de - Hochschule für Musik und Theater Leipzig (HMT Leipzig)
https://www.hmt-leipzig.de - Leipzig City Archives (Stadtarchiv Leipzig)
https://stadtarchiv.leipzig.de - MIZ, Musical Instrument Collections in Markneukirchen
https://miz.org
These links are provided as historical references and to acknowledge the places and institutions connected to Hammig’s life and work.
