|
Adolph Hahn came to London with his young family as refugees
from Germany and founded Hahn in 1870 in Soho, London.
 After the First World War the then head of the business, Charles Hahn, started to deal in art as well as continuing the restoration studio.
By the 1920's Hahn had a considerable reputation for skill and
expertise and obtained many prestigious
commissions including the restoration of the ceiling of the Mansion
House, City of London painted by Sir Peter Paul Rubens, seen in
the photo above (Charles Hahn seated). This was a long and complicated
task involving restorers working from a scaffolding erected beneath
the ceiling. They also worked on various other famous collections
notably at Castle Howard in Yorkshire and Tatton Park, Cheshire.
Charles Hahn's eldest son, also called Charles, came into the business
in 1925 followed by his younger brother Sidney in 1927 both having
been to the Putney School of Art. When Charles the Elder died in 1938 they occupied a four
storey building in Marshall Street, Soho, and had
more than twelve restorers working full time. Many established clients
relied on Hahn to protect and conserve their works of art for the
next generation.
During World War II Sidney joined the Royal Navy and finished in 1946 as a Commander. Charles went into the Royal Air Force where he became Entertainments
Officer at RAF Melksham. The Marshall
Street building received a direct hit from a German bomb which went
through all four floors and destroyed everything including hundreds
of paintings.
In 1946 Sidney and Charles started Hahn again, initially in premises in Brewer Street, and then at 47 Albemarle
Street, Mayfair, a short distance from the Royal Academy and at the heart of the artistic establishment in London.
The Hahns were founder members of the British Picture
Restorers Association. In 1957 Charles's
daughter joined the business and in 1967 Sidney's son, Paul Hahn
joined the business having worked for Sotheby's in Bond Street for
two years.
Charles died in 1976 and Sidney died in 1986. The present Chairman of the company is Danny Wettreich, an American investor and art lover. The Managing Director is now John Stephens, who has worked as a restorer and conservator for Hahn for over 35 years. The restoration business has recently relocated to newly-designed London premises.
Hahn have always had their share of prestigious and important
collections and owners. Since 1964 Hahn has been conservator of the paintings at Blenheim Palace, residence of the Duke of Marlborough.
Over more than thirty
five years the paintings at Blenheim Palace have each been closely
scrutinised and documented, cleaning and restoring where necessary
and advising on matters of conservation.
Hahn also has many private
clients of all nationalities with perhaps one or two paintings that
are given the same care and attention regardless of the financial
or artistic value.
|
