The H. Émile Blondelet Cello, Paris 1923, is an early 20th-century French instrument bearing the label of Hugues Émile Blondelet (1875–1928) and numbered B 616. Born in Mirecourt, Blondelet joined the renowned JTL workshop at fifteen and became co-director in 1908. Known for finely crafted instruments inspired by Amati and Stradivari models, he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1923, the same year this cello is dated. Its Paris provenance and association with Blondelet's mature working period make it an appealing historic French cello.
The Léon Bernardel Cello, Paris 1928, is a late-period French instrument bearing the label of Léon Bernardel (1853–1931), numbered 1108, and featuring a 2200 back. Bernardel was a respected Parisian luthier from the celebrated Bernardel family, trained by Justin Derazey, and worked with Gand & Bernardel Frères before establishing his own workshop at 40 bis Faubourg Poissonnière. His instruments continued the family's distinguished French tradition and were frequently inspired by Lupot and Stradivari models.
The Lillo Salerno Cello 2025 is a contemporary workshop instrument bearing the label “Strumento di bottega – Salerno Lillo – ex cremonensis fecit anno 2025” and numbered LS 2025-04. Italian-born Lillo Salerno trained at the violin-making schools of Cremona and Mittenwald before establishing his workshop in Pforzheim, Germany, in 2005. His instruments blend traditional Italian and German violin-making influences, making this 2025 cello an appealing modern instrument with strong European craftsmanship credentials.
