This violin was made by Jehanne H. Blaise in Mirecourt a violin-making town in France. Blaise's good choice of tonewoods can be seen beautifully under the intensively orange-red colored varnish. Blaise mostly uses regularly grained spruce on top and flamed maple from Vosges mountains on its two-piece back. As a result, his violins express a warm and dark voice, with clarity, maturity, and good resonance.
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.
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.
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.
This is a French JTL Medio Fino Violin made in Mirecourt, France. JTL stands for Jérôme Thibouville-Lamy & Cie a musical instrument making company in France formed by Louis Emile Jérôme Thibouville and Marguerite Hyacinthe Lamy at around 1900’s.
Léon Bernardel (1853–1931) learned violin making under his father, Ernest Auguste Bernardel, and later worked with Derazey before joining the family’s shop, Gand et Bernardel Frères. In 1899, he established his firm, collaborating with his son, Léon (II). Bernardel’s violins are highly celebrated for their rich, warm tone and exceptional projection, a result of his innovative craftsmanship and attention to detail. His instruments remain sought after by musicians and collectors, and his work continues to inspire luthiers to this day.
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.
French 3/4. Beautiful sound. There is an old, repaired hairline soundpost crack at the top.
Paul Beuscher began as a luthier who opened the Paul Beuscher Music Shop in 1850 in Paris at 27-29 Boulevard Beaumarchais. The string instruments bearing the label Paul Beuscher came most likely from Mirecourt, the centre of French violin making. They were bought there and sold in Paul Beuscher Music Shop in Paris bearing Paul Beuscher’s name.