Lambert-Humbert Frères firm (fl. 1876 – 1969) was a major violin manufacturer in Mirecourt, offering a wide range of models and quality levels, established in 1876 by violin-making brothers Maurice-Emile and Pierre Alexis Auguste Laberte.
Lambert-Humbert Frères firm (fl. 1876 – 1969) was a major violin manufacturer in Mirecourt, offering a wide range of models and quality levels.
This Mirecourt firm was established in 1876 by violin-making brothers Maurice-Emile and Pierre Alexis Auguste Laberte. Initially, it manufactured only factory instruments, some of which had fictitious labels like 'J. Didelot'.
In the early 20th century, Marc Laberte expanded the selection of high-quality instruments by including those from Joseph Aubry, Charles Brugere, Camille Poirson, and Georges Apparut, all of whom were reputable makers.
In 1902, Apparut joined Laberte firm as the leader of “artistic” production and remained until 1923. By 1919, Laberte had around 400 workers and was renamed “Laberte et Magnié” or “L.F.M.” after violin maker Fourier Magnié joined. The company acquired the acclaimed brand “A La Ville de Cremone” from Paul Mangenot in 1927.
The Mirecourt instrument-making industry declined in the mid-20th century, causing all three major firms to stop production in the 1960s. Laberte closed in 1969 after Philippe Laberte's death.
This is the Barbet & Granier dated 1879 Violin from Marseille France. Charles Barbet and Edmund Granier of Marseille were at the forefront of outstanding makers at the turn of the 19th century.
Bearing the label "Laurentius Bellafontana fecit Genuae Anno Domini 1943," this violin is the work of Lorenzo (Laurentius) Bellafontana (1906–1979), a distinguished member of the Genoese school and a pupil of Oreste Candi. The Latin label translates to "Laurentius Bellafontana made [this] in Genoa in the year of Our Lord 1943" and includes his characteristic LBG monogram and handwritten signature. Bellafontana's violins are admired for their refined craftsmanship, warm Italian tone, elegant design, responsive playability, and rich orange-red varnish, making them highly regarded examples of 20th-century Italian violin making.
Manighetti Violin made in 1938 in Turin, Italy
Lambert-Humbert Frères was a well-known violin manufacturer in Mirecourt from 1876 to 1969. They produced various instruments from reputable makers like Joseph Aubry and Georges Apparut. The company changed to L.F.M. in 1919 and obtained the prestigious brand “A La Ville de Cremone” in 1927. Unfortunately, the industry declined in the mid-20th century, leading to the closure of all major firms by the 1960s, including Laberte.
The 1927 Collin-Mezin violin is a masterpiece crafted in the renowned Collin-Mezin Workshop, established in the 19th century by Charles Jean Baptiste Collin-Mezin in Paris. After passing in 1923, his son, Charles Collin-Mezin Jr., took over the workshop. In 1925, the workshop moved to Mirecourt, France. Known for producing vibrant instruments with outstanding sound flexibility, the workshop's tradition continues with the 1927 Collin-Mezin violin.
Check out the Italian Copy of Geovanni Schwarz violin made about 1920. Geovanni Schwarz was born in 1865 in Padua, Italy who by the influence and tutelage of his uncle Eugenio Degani honed his skills, established his own workshop, and won a gold medal in 1916 in Rome Italy.
This is a Josef Kreuzinger Violin Made in Germany around 1924. Josef Kreuzinger was a German luthier whose works were deemed as excellent and professional.
The Rainer W. Leonhardt 2025 "November Bird" Violin is a handcrafted master violin made in Mittenwald, Germany, featuring a stunning one-piece bird's-eye maple back, a two-piece European spruce top, and a beautifully antiqued dark brown spirit varnish. Built from carefully selected tonewoods and crafted with traditional German craftsmanship, it delivers a warm, responsive tone with excellent projection.
Rainer W. Leonhardt is a fourth-generation master violin maker whose family workshop has been producing fine string instruments since 1926. Based in the historic violin-making town of Mittenwald, Germany, Leonhardt is renowned for combining traditional craftsmanship with exceptional tonal quality, creating instruments that are appreciated by musicians around the world.
