French Violin c 1920 (F17)

Charles Collin-Mezin was born in Mirecourt, France, in 1841. He came from a family of luthiers and was skilled in crafting violins, violas, cellos, basses, and bows.

This is a French Trade Violin Instrument bearing the label of Andreas Borelli dated 1720.  Andreas Borelli an Italian-born violin maker whose style developed the Borelli School of Violin Making which was later adopted by the workshops in Mirecourt France.

This French violin (copy) has a powerful sound and was made after Roger & Max Millant in Paris. It has a subtle and radiant voice. This violin is in excellent condition, making it suitable for professional musicians.

Marc Laberte (1880–1963) was trained as a violin maker and joined the family company in 1911. By 1919, the Laberte firm had around 400 craftsmen and was successful. However, the war in 1942 devastated the business, leading to its closure. Despite this, Laberte was known for his exceptional instruments and bows, earning several honours and medals.

This violin has the original Marc Laberte label and bears the number #3010. A second label states Grand Prix Paris 1931, Exposition Internationale Bruxelles 1935 Membre Du Jury, and Exposition Internationale New York 1939. The prices they won before and during the start of the world war 2.    

Victor Audinot (1870-1943), also known as Audinot-Mourot, came from a family of luthiers in Mirecourt. Mentored by Francois Chardin and Telesphore Barbé, Audinot was mainly influenced by Barbé, who had honed his skills working for Jean Baptiste Vuillaume in Paris. This experience helped shape Audinot’s successful career in instrument making.

Victor worked in Mirecourt, known for luthier tradition, before moving to Paris to set up his workshop on Rue Truffaut in 1913. He dedicated himself to his craft until retiring in 1936. He passed his expertise to five of his six sons and aspiring luthiers. Renowned for creating exact replicas of classical instruments, he crafted an exceptional copy of the ornately decorated Stradivari violin known as the ‘Sunrise’, showcasing his artistry.

Ref. F001

This is a Collin - Mezin violin made in Paris in 1902. Charles Jean Baptiste Collin-Mezin (1841–1923) was a Parisian luthier an Officier de l'Académie des Beaux-Arts and won gold and silver medals in 1878, 1889, and 1900 at the Paris Exhibitions.

This violin was made under the supervision of French violin maker Paul Jombar in Paris in the year 1920. Paul Jombar is a French violin maker born in Saint-Quentin. He set up his own workshop in 1892 at 20, rue Rochechouart in Paris.

Paul Lorange, a renowned French luthier from Lyon, worked in Marseille during the early to mid-20th century. He established his independent workshop in the city in the early 1930s and was known for his fine workmanship on classical models and his use of various shades of red varnish. The violin in question was made in 1932, and it's noted that the handwriting on the violin and his original label may differ.