Von Trier (bell foundry family)

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Family coat of arms Franz von Trier

Von Trier was the name of a bell-founding family that was active from the 15th to the beginning of the 18th century, particularly in Aachen as well as in the Rhineland and in the former Republic of the United Netherlands .

Family history

The origin of the family as well as the relational connections are genealogically not clearly clarified, but the name suggests that it originally comes from the Trier area . Likewise, according to genealogical research by Hermann Friedrich Macco, there seems to have been another family named von Trier, descended from a Wilhelm von Trier from Cologne , which did not appear as a bell-maker, but moved to Antwerp , where members of the family, according to documents, were Aldermen and publishers were mentioned. It can therefore be assumed that the bell founders named von Trier, named in the sources, descended from a common progenitor who, according to some sources, moved to Aachen from the Netherlands in the middle of the 14th century. Since that time, members of the family in Aachen were first mentioned as bell founders and noted in the church registers. It is entirely possible that individual family members did not come to Aachen until decades later after they had previously worked in places along the Rhine. The frequent use of the first names Peter, Heinrich , and Johann as well as the attachment of a joint coat of arms as an engraving on their bells indicate family relationships.

Aachen became the main seat of a large part of this family for a period of almost three hundred years, where they soon joined the "Kupferambacht", the guild of copper bats. Word of their good work spread quickly, so that they received numerous orders from all over the Rhineland and the neighboring Netherlands, of which the sources list more than 200. In addition, they took over the manufacture of guns on behalf of counts and dukes, but less often.

After the Reformation had gradually gained a foothold in Aachen from around 1530 onwards, some family members of this new denomination began. However, as the religious unrest in Aachen, which was budding at the same time, led to social disadvantages for the converts, some family members moved permanently to the eastern Netherlands, where they were already known and where they could freely practice their faith. There they settled in the towns of Nijmegen , Huissen , and Zevenaar in what was then the Duchy of Geldern , but accepted orders from all over the Netherlands at that time.

Around the beginning of the 18th century, the family seems to have died out or was no longer involved in the bell foundry trade, as their name is no longer mentioned in the relevant bell books.

Bell production (selection)

Some of the most impressive bell manufacturers and their founders from the list in the sources below provide information about the wide distribution area of ​​this family of bell founders.

  • A Peter I of Trier made:
  • only a chiming bell of a Johan van Trier is known, cast in 1434 in St.Gangolf zu Heinsberg.
  • by a Gregorius I of Trier , also called Gorgus von Aichen (which meant Aachen), active between 1483 and 1514, were made:
  • by a Johann I von Trier , active between 1507 and 1561, were made:
Martinus bell of Heinrich v. Trier in St. Martin, Lorch (Rheingau) (percussive sound: c 1 / 3,000 kg / Ø 1665 mm / Cast 1559)
  • of Heinrich I von Trier , also called Hendrik , born around 1520 in Aachen, died around 1598 in Middelburg , moved to the Netherlands for reasons of faith, are made:
  • A bell inscription from the middle of the 16th century shows that Gregorius II von Trier wrote:
    • Johannis Bell St. Martin in Lorch (Rheingau) 1565. inscription: "Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bone voluntatis + gregorivs treverensis me fecit anno Domini MDLXV. “ (Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to people who are of good will + Gregorius von Trier made me in the year of the Lord 1565)
    • a bell for Partenheim in Rheinhessen, 1566
  • Heinrich's brother Peter II of Trier , active between 1565 and 1616, moved to Huissen for reasons of faith , made:
  • A certain Peter III. von Trier , probably not the son of Peter II. as he was initially active in Aachen but certainly brother of Johann III. von Trier , later moved to Zevenaar and worked until around 1664. Together with his nephew Franz von Trier he poured, among other things:
  • His sons Johann IV. Von Trier (* 1616), Peter IV. Von Trier (* 1623) and Heinrich II. Von Trier (* 1626) seem to have constantly worked together in different constellations and were among other things responsible for the casting of the following Bells:
    • the big bell in Uedemer district Keppeln , 1650, as well as for the Laurentiuskirche in Uedem itself, 1666, the bell for St. Aldegundis in Kaarst , 1651, the bell for the Evangelical town church in Dinslaken , 1654, and the bell for the Evangelical parish church in Hörstgen district of Kamp-Lintfort .
    • probably by Peter IV alone were made: three bells for St. George in Haldern near Rees, 1678, two bells for the collegiate church of Kleve , 1678/79, the big bell for the Magdalenenkirche in Geldern , 1680 and one bell for the abbey church in Gladbach , 1693
  • Already mentioned Johann III. von Trier , father of Franz von Trier , active until around 1613, poured among other things:
  • Franz von Trier , born around 1590 and died after 1672, son of Johann III. von Trier , and his son Jakob von Trier , born around 1615, worked mostly and extremely productively together and were therefore jointly named as founders of the following bells:
    • Bell Ad te levavianimam meam in St. Jakob, Aachen, 1644
    • Re-casting of the Marienglocke of Aachen Minster after the fire in Aachen , 1659
    • several bells Veni, creator spiritus , including the Charles bell, Johann Evangelist, Johann Baptist, Leopardus bell, Stephanus bell, Peter bell and Simeon bell of the Aachen Minster, 1659
    • Bell Veni sancte spiritus in St. Johann Baptist , Aachen-Burtscheid, the former abbey church, 1659
    • Bell for the Chapel of Maria, Comforter of the Afflicted, in Aachen-Burtscheid, 1672
    • Outside Aachen, bells for St. Martinus in the village of Oidtweiler near Baesweiler , for the old church in Odenkirchen , 1637, for churches in Linnich and Würselen , for St. Mary Sorrowful Mother in Aachen-Hahn , and from 1650 for churches in Konzen and Simmerath
    • In addition, the bronze bowl of the Aachen Karlsbrunnen , 1620
  • Jakob von Trier, in turn, poured the bells with his son Christopherus von Trier , baptized on December 28, 1645, verifiable up to around 1700:
    • The ban bell in the Dutch stone and one in neighboring Urmond , 1688
    • Bells for Düren and the Romanesque church in Nideggen , 1700

Literature and Sources

Web links

Commons : Von Trier (Glockengießerfamilie)  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Entry in the inscription catalog Aachen, DI 32, City of Aachen, No. 52 (Helga Giersiepen)
  2. ^ Entry in the inscription catalog Aachen, DI 32, City of Aachen, No. 53 (Helga Giersiepen)
  3. ^ Entry in the inscription catalog Aachen, DI 32, City of Aachen, No. 54 (Helga Giersiepen)
  4. ^ Entry in the inscription catalog Aachen, DI 32, City of Aachen, No. 60+ (Helga Giersiepen)
  5. ↑ Entry in the inscription catalog Aachen, DI 32, Stadt Aachen, No. 81+ (Helga Giersiepen)
  6. ^ Entry in the inscription catalog Aachen, DI 32, City of Aachen, No. 168 (Helga Giersiepen)
  7. ^ Entry in the inscription catalog Aachen, DI 32, City of Aachen, No. 118 (Helga Giersiepen)