Reference Library Makers

B. 1798, Mirecourt, d. 1875, Paris

The most eminent and successful of nineteenth century violin makers. Trained initially by his father Claude-Francois (1772-1834) in Mirecourt, and subsequently in Paris at the workshop of Nicolas-Antoine Lete (1793-1843), he began to sign his own instruments from 1823. These were strongly influenced by the work of Pique and Lupot, who died in 1822 and 1824 respectively. In 1828, he left Lete and founded his own business at 46 Rue Croix-des-Petits-Champs. By this time he had already developed a style of 'antiqued' finish, with the varnish and wood worn in imitation of authentic eighteenth century Cremonese instruments, in which he was highly successful. In the early period, he even labelled his instruments with facsimiles of Stradivari and Guarneri tickets, but as his fame increased, he inserted his own label, and as further authentification, signed and branded his work internally, along with an individual serial number. He made close copies of Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati and Maggini instruments, as well as bows and other innovative and imaginative instruments. His brother Nicolas Francois (1802-1876) became his pupil, and worked in Brussels from 1842, although with less distinction than Jean-Baptiste.