Based on its label, this French trade violin is from Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (7 October 1798 – 19 March 1875) a French luthier, born in Mirecourt, France. His father and grandfather were both luthiers which explains his interest in violins and other stringed instruments. He later joined various workshops when he moved to Paris in 1818. One in particular is the workshop of Simon Lete, the son-in-law of François-Louis Pique at Rue Pavée St. Sauveur. Their partnership led them to settle in Rue Croix-des-Petits-Champs in 1825 under the name of "Lété et Vuillaume."However, his first labels are dated 1823.
He became a great inventor and winner of various awards such as a silver medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1827. He started his own business at 46 Rue Croix des Petits-Champs became the most important workshop in Paris, creating over 3000 instruments.
This is a French JTL Virtuoso Violin Copy (c 1900) of Francisco Ruggieri dated 1671. Ruggieri was a skilled instrument maker from a renowned family of luthiers in Cremona, Italy. JTL represents Jérôme Thibouville-Lamy & Cie, a French musical instrument manufacturing company established by Louis Emile Jérôme Thibouville and Marguerite Hyacinthe Lamy in the early 1900s.
Collin-Mezin Violin dated 1887. This as an unusual model for a Collin-Mezin violin, but the workmanship, the original label, and Collin-Mezin's authentic signature verify the maker.
Amati Mangenot made this violin, but he "Italianised" his name and city, resulting in Mageno and Bordo.
Amati Mangenot (1901 – 1966), a French luthier, crafted this violin. He collaborated with the Laurent brothers and later took over Emile Laurent's workshop in Bordeaux.
This is a Mirecourt Violin made around the 1930s with the label of a French luthier named L'Humbert. Emile L'Humbert is a French luthier who settled in rue de Passy in Paris in 1906 and began to make beautiful instruments until 1920 for Parisian luthiers.
This is a Breton Mirecourt Violin made around 1900. Stamped internally Breton, Brevete, De S.A.R.M.e. Francois Breton was a French violin maker in Mirecourt, France who was Duchesse d’Angouleme’s personal luthier.
This is a Paul Jean- Baptiste Chipot Violin made in Paris in about 1942. Paul Jean Baptiste Chipot is a French luthier the son of Chipot-Vuillaume. He worked in many workshops in Mirecourt then moved to Vendome to start his own workshop.
This violin is Labelled Collin-Mezin and was made in Paris dated 1911. Charles Jean Baptiste Collin-Mezin came from a line of luthiers where he created various instruments considered superior to other new instruments. This violin is most likely an early copy.
This violin is labeled Claude-Augustin Miremont made in Paris dated 1880. Claude-Augustin Miremont (1827 – 1887) is a French violin maker in Mirecourt who was considered one of the greatest violin makers in the second part of the 19th century. Check out the images for more details.
