Simon Homolak Grand Piano, Wien, 19th Century

Simon Homolak
1808-1837

Grand piano
first quarter of the 19th century
cm. 91x223x128 – leg height cm. 54

In good general condition, it requires tuning and minor restoration work.

Simon Homolak (also sometimes labeled Homolack) was born in 1808, presumably in Vienna, Austria. Homolak was listed as a piano maker in Vienna. There is very little historical information available about him but it is very likely that this was one of numerous small family-run businesses that were once popular throughout Vienna and Austria as a whole. Known as the musical capital of the world, Vienna had a number of small, family-owned companies that built modest numbers of high-quality instruments, often built with exceptional pride and craftsmanship. Only the best was good enough to be labeled with the family name. Unfortunately, very little history of these small Viennese companies has survived over the years and Simon Homolak who died in 1837, having lived only 29 short years, is sadly no exception. However, there remain some precious testimonies of some excellent pianos, especially concert grand pianos, among which the model proposed here stands out for its quality.