Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (; 7 October 1798 – 19 March 1875) was a French

luthier A luthier ( ; ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments. Etymology The word ' is originally French and comes from ''luth'', the French word for "lute". The term was originally used for makers of lutes, but it came to be ...

, businessman, inventor and winner of many awards. He was one of the finest French luthiers of the 19th century and a key figure in the world of violin making. His workshop made more than 3,000 instruments. His vision was the ethics and beauty of the

Cremona Cremona ( , , ; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po (river), Po river in the middle of the Po Valley. It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local city a ...

school.

Early life

Vuillaume was born in

Mirecourt Mirecourt () is a Communes of France, commune in the Vosges (French department), Vosges Departments of France, department in Grand Est in northeastern France. Mirecourt is known for lace-making and the manufacture of musical instruments, particula ...

, where his father and grandfather were luthiers. His father taught him the basics of violin making.

Career

Vuillaume moved to Paris in 1818 to work for François Chanot. In 1821, he joined the workshop of Simon Lété, François-Louis Pique's son-in-law, at Rue Pavée St. Sauveur. His first labels are dated 1823. Lété and Vuillaume became partners and in 1825 settled in the Rue Croix-des-Petits-Champs under the name of "Lété et Vuillaume". In 1827, at the height of the

Neo-Gothic Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half of the 19th century ...

period, he started to make imitations of old instruments, some of which were identical to the originals. In 1827, Vuillaume won a silver medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition. The following year, he started his own business at 46 Rue Croix des Petits-Champs. His workshop became the most important in Paris and within twenty years, it led Europe. He won various gold medals in the competitions of the Paris Universal Exhibitions in 1839, 1844, and 1855. In 1851, he won the Council Medal in London was awarded the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

. In 1855, Vuillaume purchased 144 instruments made by Italian master luthiers, including the ''

Messiah Stradivarius The ''Messiah - Salabue Stradivarius'' of 1716 is a violin made by the Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari of Cremona. It is considered to be the only Stradivarius in existence in ''as "new"'' state. The neck has been lengthened and at minimum th ...

'' and 24 other Stradivari. He bought them for 80,000 francs from the heirs of

Luigi Tarisio Luigi Tarisio (Fontaneto d'Agogna (Novara) - 21 June 1796 – Milan - 1 November 1854) was an Italian violin dealer and collector. Early life He was of humble parents and is said to have trained as a carpenter, playing violin as a hobby. Care ...

, an Italian tradesman.Les Luthiers Parisiens aux XIX et XX siecles Tom 3 "Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume et sa famille : Nicolas, Nicolas-François et Sébastien" by Sylvette Milliot published by Edition les Amis des la Musique 2006 In 1858, in order to avoid Paris customs duty on wood imports, he moved to Rue Pierre Demours near the Ternes, outside the city. A maker of more than 3,000 instruments—almost all of which are numbered—and a fine tradesman, Vuillaume was also a gifted inventor, as his research in collaboration with the acoustics expert

Félix Savart Félix Savart (; ; 30 June 1791, Mézières – 16 March 1841, Paris) was a French physicist and mathematician who is primarily known for the Biot–Savart law of electromagnetism, which he discovered together with his colleague Jean-Baptist ...

demonstrates. He developed many new instruments and mechanisms, most notably a large

viola The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...

which he called a "contralto", and the three-string

Octobass The octobass is an extremely large and rare bowed string instrument first built around 1850 in Paris by the French luthier Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (1798–1875). It has three strings and is essentially a larger version of the double bass – ...

(1849–51), a huge triple bass standing 3.48 metres high. He also created the hollow steel bow (particularly appreciated by

Charles de Bériot Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was ...

), and the 'self-rehairing' bow. For the latter, hair purchased in prepared hanks could be inserted by the player in the time it takes to change a string, and was tightened or loosened by a simple mechanism inside the

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely semiaquatic group of short-bodied, tailless amphibian vertebrates composing the order (biology), order Anura (coming from the Ancient Greek , literally 'without tail'). Frog species with rough ski ...

. The frog itself was fixed to the stick, and the balance of the bow thus remained constant when the hair stretched with use. He also designed a round-edged frog mounted to the butt by means of a recessed track, which he encouraged his bowmakers to use; other details of craft make it possible to identify the actual maker of many Vuillaume bows. The bows are stamped, often rather faintly, either "vuillaume à paris" or "j.b. vuillaume". Other innovations include the insertion of Stanhopes in the eye of the frogs of his bows, a kind of mute (the ') and several machines, including one for manufacturing gut strings of perfectly equal thickness. Many of the great bow makers of the 19th century collaborated with his workshop.

Jean Pierre Marie Persois Jean Pierre Marie Persoit ersois'' - (1782/83? in Mirecourt – after 1854) was a great and intriguing French bowmaker or ''Archetier''. One of the first bowmakers to be hired by the young Jean Baptiste Vuillaume. Persoit seems to have work ...

Jean Adam Jean Adam (or Adams) (30 April 1704 – 3 April 1765) was a Scottish poet from the labouring classes; her best-known work is "There's Nae Luck Aboot The Hoose". In 1734 she published a volume of her poetry entitled ''Miscellany poems'', but the ...

Dominique Peccatte Dominique Peccatte (15 July 1810 – 13 January 1874) was a French luthier and above all a renowned bow maker. He was apprenticed in Mirecourt and later worked with Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume. He is notable for adapting the "hatchet-shaped" typ ...

, Nicolas Rémy Maire,

François Peccatte François Peccatte (10 March 1821 in Mirecourt – 30 October 1855 in Paris) was a very talented archetier. He is said to have been destined for greatness, but died at the age of 34 before reaching the height of his craft. He was the brother of Do ...

Nicolas Maline Nicolas Maline (28 February 1822 – 28 April 1877 in Mirecourt) was a luthier and an archetier/bow maker. He was apprenticed in Mirecourt and worked for Etienne Pajeot, J.B. Vuillaume and other makers. Maline came from a family of luthiers i ...

Joseph Henry Joseph Henry (December 17, 1797– May 13, 1878) was an American physicist and inventor who served as the first secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He was the secretary for the National Institute for the Promotion of Science, a precursor ...

, Pierre Simon,

François Nicolas Voirin François Nicolas Voirin (1833–1885) was a French archetier (Bow (music), bowmaker), known in his time as the "Modern François Tourte, Tourte." F.N. Voirin (the son of a gardener) was born in Paris, the brother of Joseph Voirin (also a talente ...

Charles Peccatte Charles Peccatte (14 October 185022 October 1918) was a French ''Archetier'' ( bow maker). He was born in Mirecourt, the son of François Peccatte and the nephew of Dominique Peccatte. He was trained by August Lenoble with whom he later had a part ...

, Charles Claude Husson,

Joseph Fonclause Joseph Fonclause (Claude Joseph 'le Mayeux' Fonclauze) (1799–1862) was a French archetier/bow maker. Went to Paris to work for Lupot, Tourte and Vuillaume. From 1840 he worked alone. Most of his bows are stamped. Early in his career, he ...

, Jean Joseph Martin, and Prosper Colas are among the most celebrated. Vuillaume was an innovative violin maker and restorer, and a tradesman who traveled Europe in search of instruments. Most instruments by the great Italian violin makers passed through his workshop, where Vuillaume took accurate measurements of their dimensions and made copies of them. He drew his inspiration from two violin makers and their instruments:

Antonio Stradivari Antonio Stradivari (, also , ; – 18 December 1737) was an Italian luthier and a craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas and harps. The Latinisation of names, Latinized form of his surname, ''Stradivarius'', a ...

and his "Le Messie" (Messiah), and

Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù Bartolomeo Giuseppe "del Gesù" Guarneri (, , ; 21 August 1698 – 17 October 1744) was an Italian luthier from the Guarneri family of Cremona. He rivals Antonio Stradivari (1644–1737) with regard to the respect and reverence accorded his inst ...

and his " Il Cannone" which belonged to

Niccolò Paganini Niccolò (or Nicolò) Paganini (; ; 27 October 178227 May 1840) was an Italian violinist and composer. He was the most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. His 24 Caprices ...

; others such as Maggini, Da Salò and

Nicola Amati Nicola Amati, Nicolò Amati or Nicolao Amati (, ; 3 September 1596 – 12 April 1684) was an Italian master luthier from Cremona, Italy. Amati is one of the most well-known luthiers from the Casa Amati (House of Amati). He was the teacher of il ...

were also imitated, but to a lesser extent. Vuillaume made numerous copies of his favorite violin "Le Messie", the more noteworthy among them being: Vuillaume was able to craft such a perfect replica of "Il Cannone", that upon viewing them side by side, Paganini was unable to tell which was the original. He was able to recognize the master instrument only upon hearing subtle differences in tone during playing. The copy violin was eventually passed on to Paganini's only student,

Camillo Sivori Ernesto Camillo Sivori (June 6, 1817February 18, 1894) was an Italian virtuoso violinist and composer. Life Early life Born in Genoa, he was the only known pupil of Niccolò Paganini. He also studied with composer Antonio Restano (1790–1 ...

. Sivori owned great violins by

Nicolò Amati Nicola Amati, Nicolò Amati or Nicolao Amati (, ; 3 September 1596 – 12 April 1684) was an Italians, Italian master luthier from Cremona, Italy. Amati is one of the most well-known luthiers from the Amati, Casa Amati (House of Amati). He was t ...

Stradivari Antonio Stradivari (, also , ; – 18 December 1737) was an Italian luthier and a craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas and harps. The Latinized form of his surname, ''Stradivarius'', as well as the colloqui ...

, and Bergonzi, but the Vuillaume was his favourite. This violin is owned by the Musei Di Genova and displayed in their Palazzo Tursi. When making these copies, Vuillaume always remained faithful to the essential qualities of the instruments he imitated – their thickness, the choice of the woods, and the shape of the arching. The only differences, always the result of a personal decision, were the colour of the varnish, the height of the ribs or the length of the instruments. His most beautiful violins were often named after the people who owned them (Caraman de Chimay, Cheremetoff, Doria) Vuillaume occasionally named his instruments: twelve were named after birds, for example the "Golden Pheasant", "The Thrush" and twelve were named after the apostles such as "St. Joseph" and "Saint Paul". A few others were also named after important biblical characters "The Evangelists" and Millant, in his book on Vuillaume, mentions a "St. Nicholas". A rare violin by Vuillaume (c. 1874, Paris) showcases inlaid ebony

fleur-de-lys The ''fleur-de-lis'', also spelled ''fleur-de-lys'' (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a common heraldic charge in the (stylized) shape of a lily (in French, and mean and respectively). Most notably, the ''fleur-de-lis'' ...

designs and is one of the last instruments to come out of Vuillaume's workshop, made a year before his death. Crafted for the famous violin dealer

David Laurie David Laurie (b.Netherton, Perth and Kinross, Netherton 1833 - d. Brussels 1897) - was a distinguished 19th century violin collector (known worldwide, as good friend of Jean Baptiste Vuillaume, J. B. Vuillaume). Born in 1833 in Netherton, Ki ...

, "Label reads: Jean Baptiste Vuillaume a Paris, 3 Rue Demour-Ternes, expres pour mon ami David Laurie, 1874", numbered 2976 and signed on the label. It's a copy of a

violin originally belonging to Prince Youssoupoff (a Russian aristocrat and pupil of

Henri Vieuxtemps Henri François Joseph Vieuxtemps (; 17 February 18206 June 1881) was a Belgian composer and violinist. He occupies an important place in the history of the violin as a prominent exponent of the Franco-Belgian violin school during the mid-19th c ...

). Only six copies were made. He also had practice violins, known as " St. Cécile violins", made by his brother Nicolas de Mirecourt. Another lesser line, also made by Nicolas, was labelled " Stentor". His main contribution to violin-making was his work on

varnish Varnish is a clear Transparency (optics), transparent hard protective coating or film. It is not to be confused with wood stain. It usually has a yellowish shade due to the manufacturing process and materials used, but it may also be pigmente ...

. The

purfling Purfling is a narrow decorative edge inlaid into the top plate and often the back plate of a stringed instrument. It was originally made of laminated strips of wood, and later nacre and other hard inlay materials. Plastic is commonly used in moder ...

's joints are often cut on the straight and not on the bias as was traditional, in the middle in the pin. His brand is burnt at a length of 1 cm. There is generally a black dot on the joint of the top under the bridge. He used an external mould. The stop is generally 193 mm long. In this respect he follows to the French 18th-century tradition of a short stop (190 mm), which was traditionally 195 mm long in Italy and even 200 mm long in Germany. The violin's serial number is inscribed in the middle inside the instrument. Its date (only the last two figures) in the upper paraph on the back. His violins of the first period have large edges and his brand was then burnt inside the middle bouts. The varnish varied from orange-red to red. After 1860, his varnish became lighter. In addition to the above-mentioned bow makers, most 19th-century Parisian violin makers worked in his workshop, including Hippolyte Silvestre, Jean-Joseph Honoré Derazey,

Charles Buthod Charles Louis Buthod (1810–1889) was a French luthier, best known for his violins and cellos. Based in Paris, he worked in his early career for the legendary French luthier Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, rising to become foreman of his workshop. He la ...

, Charles-Adolphe Maucotel,

Télesphore Barbé Télesphore may refer to: People * Jacques Telesphore Roman (1800–1848), Louisiana businessman, sugar planter and builder of Oak Alley Plantation * Télesphore Fournier PC (1823–1896), Canadian politician and jurist * Télesphore Simard (mayor) ...

, Paul Bailly and

George Gemünder Georg (George) Gemünder (13 April 1816 Ingelfingen - 15 January 1899) was a German-born American violin maker who worked in Boston, Massachusetts, and later, Astoria, New York. With his brother August and others, he pioneered the construction of ...

. Nestor Audinot, a pupil of Sébastien Vuillaume, himself Jean-Baptiste's nephew, succeeded him in his workshop in 1875. Vuillaume died at the height of his career, widely regarded as the pre-eminent

of his day.

World-record price

*London, 30 October 2012 –

Sotheby's Sotheby's ( ) is a British-founded multinational corporation with headquarters in New York City. It is one of the world's largest brokers of fine art, fine and decorative art, jewellery, and collectibles. It has 80 locations in 40 countries, an ...

: GBP 145,250 (US$231,160) – "Saint Paul" J. B. Vuillaume violin copy of the "Messiah" Stradivarius, Paris, circa 1870 *London, 28 March 2013 – Bromptons: GBP 162,000 (US$251,619) – J. B. Vuillaume, Paris, circa 1860, after Stradivarius *London, 30 October 2013 –

Tarisio Auctions Tarisio is the world's largest seller of fine stringed instruments and bows. Founded in 1999 as an auction house that specializes in string instruments and bows, Tarisio now has locations in New York, London and Berlin and serves a global clientel ...

, London: GBP 163,200 (US$262,275) – J. B. Vuillaume violin, Paris *London, 22 October 2019 – Tarisio Auctions: GBP 350,000 (US$452,380, EUR 406,291) – J. B. Vuillaume cello copy of the "Duport" Stradivarius, Paris, 1845 *London, 8 June 2021 – Ingles & Hayday: £384,000 (US$533,597) – "Tsar Nicholas"; ex-Stern violin by J.B. Vuillaume, Paris, circa 1840-41

Specimen labels

*J.B. Vuillaume No. 4, Chez N.A. Lété rue Pavée-Saint-Sauveur no. 20 á Paris 1823 *Jean Baptiste Vuillaume á Paris, rue Croix des Petits Champs *Jean Baptiste Vuillaume á Paris, 3 rue Demours-Ternes The signature is usually followed by a doubly encircled JBV (J&B are joined). Early on, it was doubly encircled JBV. The labels at "Rue Croix Petits Champs" began using the doubly encircled JBV (J&B joined), which remained the same on "3. rue Demours-Ternes" labels. In addition, most specimens have a number associated with them.

Awards and medals

*In 1827, Silver medal at the French Industrial Exposition of 1827 *In 1834, Silver medal at the

French Industrial Exposition of 1834 French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

*In 1844, Gold medal at the

French Industrial Exposition of 1844 The French Industrial Exposition of 1844 (), held in a temporary structure on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, was the tenth in a series of eleven French national industrial expositions held since 1798 to encourage improvements in progressive agricu ...

*In 1849, Gold medal at the French Industrial Exposition of 1849 *In 1851, Council medal at the

Great Exhibition The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, also known as the Great Exhibition or the Crystal Palace Exhibition (in reference to the temporary structure in which it was held), was an international exhibition that took ...

in London for "new modes of making violins, in such a manner that they are matured and perfected immediately on the completion of the manufacture, thus avoiding the necessity of keeping them for considerable periods to develop their excellencies" *In 1855, Gold medal at the Paris International Exhibition

The Vuillaume family

* Jean Vuillaume – ancestor of Jean-Baptiste. His

historicity Historicity is the historical actuality of persons and events, meaning the quality of being part of history instead of being a historical myth, legend, or fiction. The historicity of a claim about the past is its factual status. Historicity deno ...

is disputed as a fabrication of Jean-Baptiste who may have been trying to create a mythology of family descendants going far back to Italy. * Claude Vuillaume – oldest family member, a lute maker * Claude François Vuillaume I (1730–1770) * Charles François Vuillaume (1755–1779 – particularly known for his workmanship and the mellow and responsive tone of his instruments * Claude François Vuillaume II (1772–1834) – father of the Jean-Baptiste * Charles-Francois Vuillaume II (born 1797) – eldest son of Claude François Vuillaume II * Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (1798–1875) * Nicolas Vuillaume (1800–1871) – third son of Claude François Vuillaume II. Made wonderful, high quality instruments in Mirecourt. He would ship some of his instruments to Paris to be later completed by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume and sold at J.B. Vuillaume’s Paris shop. He also made a brand of instruments called 'Stentor'. *

Nicolas François Vuillaume Nicolas François Vuillaume (1802–1876) was an important French luthier of the Vuillaume family, and younger brother of the illustrious Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume. He ran the leading workshop in Brussels, Belgium, and was appointed instrument make ...

(1802–1876) – fourth son of Claude François Vuillaume II. The most important luthier of the Vuillaume family next only to his brother Jean-Baptiste. Established his own workshop, with a fine reputation, in Brussels. * Joseph François Vuillaume (1804–1856) – worked in Mirecourt, then Paris, and finally

Lyon Lyon (Franco-Provençal: ''Liyon'') is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, southeast of Paris, north of Marseille, southwest of Geneva, Switzerland, north ...

. * Claude-François Vuillaume (1807–1853) – fifth son of Claude François Vuillaume II, father of Sébastien * Sébastian Vuillaume (1835–1875) – nephew of Jean-Baptiste, worked with his uncle during the golden period * Vuillaume, Gustave Eugène – born at Mirecourt 1899. Pupil of Mougenot and Jacquent Gand. Workmanship and general appearance qualify this maker as successful in

Guarneri The Guarneri (, , ), often referred to in the Latinized form Guarnerius, is the family name of a group of distinguished luthiers from Cremona in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries, whose standing is considered comparable to those of the Amati ...

an modelling. Oil varnish typically of clear yellow to dark reddish brown.

Players

Charles Auguste de Bériot Charles Auguste de Bériot (; 20 February 18028 April 1870) was a Belgian violinist, artist and composer. Biography Charles de Bériot was born in 1802 in Leuven, France (now part of Belgium) into a noble family but was orphaned at the age of n ...

(1802–1870) *

(1815–1894), played on a Vuillaume copy of Paganini's " Il Cannone" (which Paganini gave to him). *

Ole Bull Ole Bornemann Bull (; 5 February 181017 August 1880) was a Norwegian virtuoso violinist and composer. According to Robert Schumann, he was on a level with Niccolò Paganini for the speed and clarity of his playing. Biography Background Bull was ...

(1810–1880) * Ricardo Cyncynates (1961), 1873 "The David" *

Ferdinand David Ferdinand is a Germanic name composed of the elements "journey, travel", Proto-Germanic , abstract noun from root "to fare, travel" (PIE , "to lead, pass over"), and "courage" or "ready, prepared" related to Old High German "to risk, ventu ...

(1810–1873) *

Jean-Delphin Alard Jean-Delphin Alard (8 March 181522 February 1888) was a French violinist, composer, and teacher. He was the son-in-law of Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, and had Pablo de Sarasate amongst his students. Biography Alard was born in Bayonne, the son of an ...

(1815–1888) *

(1820–1881) c.1874 (now known as ex-Vieuxtemps) *

Jules Garcin Jules Auguste Garcin alomon'' (11 July 1830 – 10 October 1896) was a French violinist, conductor and composer of the 19th century. Life Garcin was born in Bourges. His maternal grandfather, Joseph Garcin, was director of a travelling company p ...

(1830–1896) copy of "Le Messie" (Messiah) Stradivari 1868 without number. *

Joseph Joachim Joseph Joachim (28 June 1831 – 15 August 1907) was a Hungarian Violin, violinist, Conducting, conductor, composer and teacher who made an international career, based in Hanover and Berlin. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely ...

(1831–1907) * Sophie Humler (1841-1918) ex-Sophie Humler copy of Stradivari 1863 *

Eugène Ysaÿe Eugène-Auguste Ysaÿe (; 16 July 185812 May 1931) was a Belgian virtuoso violinist, composer, and conductor. He was regarded as "The King of the Violin", or, as Nathan Milstein put it, the "tsar". Early years Born in Liège, Ysaÿe began ...

(1858–1931) * Josef Suk (1874–1935) *

Fritz Kreisler Friedrich "Fritz" Kreisler (February 2, 1875 – January 29, 1962) was an Austrian-born American violinist and composer. One of the most noted violin masters of his day, he was known for his sweet tone and expressive phrasing, with marked por ...

(1875–1962) *

Jacques Thibaud Jacques Thibaud (; 27 September 18801 September 1953) was a French violinist. Biography Thibaud was born in Bordeaux and studied the violin with his father before entering the Paris Conservatoire at the age of thirteen. In 1896 he jointly won th ...

(1880–1953) *

Naoum Blinder Naoum Blinder (July 19, 1889 – November 21, 1965) was a Russian- American virtuoso violinist and teacher, born in Yevpatoria (then Russian Empire, now Ukraine). Early life and education He graduated from the Imperial Musical College of Odessa a ...

(1889–1965) ex-Blinder 1845-50 *

Efrem Zimbalist Efrem Zimbalist (April 21 .S. April 9 1889 – February 22, 1985) was a Russian and American concert violinist, composer, conducting, conductor and director of the Curtis Institute of Music. Early life Efrem Zimbalist was born on April 9, 1 ...

(1889–1985) *

Jack Benny Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky; February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was an American entertainer who evolved from a modest success as a violinist on the vaudeville circuit to one of the leading entertainers of the twentieth century with ...

(1894–1974) now known as the ex-Jack Benny 1845 *Nina Dolce (Georgina Springer) (1897-d.?) ex-Hamma 1828 *

Toscha Seidel Toscha Seidel (November 17, 1899 – November 15, 1962) was a Russian violinist Biography Seidel was born in Odessa on November 17, 1899, to a Jewish family. A student of Leopold Auer in St. Petersburg, Seidel became known for a lush, romantic to ...

(1899–1962) copy of the Alard Strad 1860 (now known as ex-Seidel) *

Louis Kaufman Louis Kaufman (May 10, 1905 – February 9, 1994) was an American violinist. He played on the soundtrack of as many as 500 movies and made over 100 musical recordings. He is also credited with reviving the music of Antonio Vivaldi with his re ...

(1905–1994) copy of "La Pucelle" Stradivari #1489 c.1839 *Nathan Posner (collector Beverly Hills, California) (?-1962) ex-Chimay viola 1865 and ex-Sophie Humler 1863 *

Pierre Fournier Pierre Léon Marie Fournier (24 June 19068 January 1986) was a French cellist who was called the "aristocrat of cellists" on account of his elegant musicianship and majestic sound. Biography Pierre Fournier was born in Paris, the son of a F ...

(1906–1986) ex-'Count Doria' cello 1863 *

Ruggiero Ricci Ruggiero Ricci (24 July 1918 – 5 August 2012) was an American violinist known for performances and recordings of the works of Paganini. Biography He was born in San Bruno, California, the son of Italian immigrants who first named him Woodr ...

(1918–2012) * Marinus Snoeren (1919–1982), played on the Vuillaume Cello, currently in hands of Rien Snoeren *Adolph F. Schrader (Chicago), American, Violinist played on the ex- Garcin 1868 also another Strad copy of 1860 #2390 *

Henryk Szeryng Henryk Bolesław Szeryng (usually pronounced ''HEN-r-ik SHEH-r-in-g'') (22 September 19183 March 1988) was a Polish- Mexican violinist. Early years He was born in Warsaw, Poland on 22 September 1918 into a wealthy Jewish family. The surname ...

(1918–1988) Messiah Strad copy which he gave to Prince Sovereign Rainier III of Monaco *

Isaac Stern Isaac Stern (July 21, 1920 – September 22, 2001) was an American violinist. Born in Ukraine, Stern moved to the United States when he was 14 months old. Stern performed both nationally and internationally, notably touring the Soviet Union a ...

(1920–2001) A copy of the "Stern, ex Panette" Guarneri del Gesu of 1737 (c. 1850) also ex-Nicolas I of 1840 *

Arthur Grumiaux Baron Arthur Grumiaux (; 21 March 1921 – 16 October 1986) was a Belgian violinist, considered by some to have been "one of the few truly great violin virtuosi of the twentieth century". He has been noted for having a "consistently beautiful t ...

(1921–1986) 1866 (now known as ex-Grumiaux) now played by Jennifer Koh *

Josef Hassid Josef Hassid () (28 December 19237 November 1950) was a Polish violinist. Childhood Born on 28 December 1923 to Jewish parents in Suwałki, Poland, as Joseph or Józef Chasyd, he was the second youngest of four children. He lost his mother when ...

(1923–1950) ex-Kreisler *Endre Granat (1937) Guarneri copy 1866 *

Patrice Fontanarosa Patrice Fontanarosa (born 4 September 1942 in Paris) is a French classical violinist. Early life Fontanarosa is the elder son of the painters Lucien Fontanarosa (1912-1975) and Annette Faive-Fontanarosa (1911-1988). Education In 1959, Fontan ...

(1942) *Jean Etienne Drouet (1942–1990) ex-Drouet 1827 No.73" and labelled "Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno 1706" *

Pinchas Zukerman Pinchas Zukerman (; born 16 July 1948) is an Israeli-American violinist, violist and conductor. Life and career Zukerman was born in Tel Aviv, to Jewish parents and Holocaust survivors Yehuda and Miriam Lieberman Zukerman. He began his musica ...

(1948) *Young-Uck Kim ex- Paganini; ex- Kreisler 1860 *

André Rieu André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu (, ; born 1 October 1949) is a Dutch violinist and conductor best known as the founder of the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra. Rieu and his orchestra tour worldwide, often playing in stadiums. He resides ...

(1949) *Oliver Jaques (Zurich) ex-Nicolas I:ex-Isaac Stern 1840 *Stewart Eaton (English, Violist) 'Count Doria' viola 1848 *Barry Hou ex-Zukerman *Laszlo Sirsom (1953) *

Chin Kim Chin Kim (born 1957) is a Korean-born American classical violinist, largely educated in the United States through the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. Activities Chin Kim has performed extensively throughout North America, Eur ...

(1957) plays on 1843 Stradivari model *Richard Hendrix (1958) plays an early Cannone copy made in 1828. *

Mark O'Connor Mark O'Connor (born August 5, 1961) is an American fiddle player, composer, guitarist, and mandolinist whose music combines bluegrass, country, jazz and classical. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he has won six Country Music Association Mu ...

(1961) plays an 1830s Vuillaume *

Ingolf Turban Ingolf Turban (born 17 March 1964) is a German violinist. Life Born in Munich, Turban's mother was a pianist, his father a music-loving physician, his sister Dietlinde an actress. At the age of 12 he was accepted into the violin class of in M ...

(1964) *Gennady Filimonov (196?) plays on the ex- Garcin Vuillaume *Cihat Aşkın (1968) * Giovanni Radivo (1969) *

Alexander Kerr Alexander John Henry Kerr (2 December 1892 – 4 December 1964) was an English Engineering officer (ship), marine engineer and wholesale newsagent. He is best known for his service in the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1916, for ...

(1970) *Michael Jelden (1971) * Manrico Padovani (1973) plays on a Vuillaume 1870 (copy of the Strad Messiah) and on a Vuillaume 1845 (copy of 'Il Cannone' Guarnerius of 1743) *Tiffany Wu (1978) *

Hilary Hahn Hilary Hahn (born November 27, 1979) is an American violinist. A three-time Grammy Award winner, she has performed throughout the world as a soloist with leading orchestras and conductors, and as a recitalist. She is an avid supporter of contemp ...

(1979) plays on the ex- Lande of 1864 (copy of 'Il Cannone' Guarnerius of 1743) *

Catherine Manoukian Catherine Manoukian (born June 2, 1981) is an Armenian-Canadian violinist. Biography Background and early life Catherine Manoukian was born in Toronto. Her parents were professional violinists and met at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, wher ...

(1981), plays on the ex- Ysaÿe Vuillaume *Myvanwy Ella Penny (1984) *Nemanja Radulovic (1985) plays a J.B. Vuillaume violin from 1843. *Pierre Fouchenneret (1985) *Lorenzo Gatto (1986) plays a Jean Baptiste Vuillaume *Vilde Frang (1986) plays on an 1864 Vuillaume *

Olga Kholodnaya Olga Kholodnaya (Russian: Ольга Холодная) is a Russian violinist, composer, arranger and producer, born in Cheboksary, in the Soviet Union and based in Berlin, Germany. Biography Born in Cheboksary, the capital of Chuvashia ex-So ...

(1987) plays on an 1853 Vuillaume "The Blade" *

Nadir Khashimov Nadir Khashimov (born 16 August 1990) is a classical violinist who began his studies at the age of 7. He is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with violinists Pamela Frank Pamela Frank (born June 20, 1967) is an Ame ...

(1990) plays on an 1828 Vuillaume *William Shaub (1992) plays on an 1865 Vuillaume *

Modigliani quartet Modigliani Quartet is a French string quartet founded in Paris in 2003 by four close friends, following their studies at the Conservatoire de Paris. Founding violinist Philippe Bernhard left the group in 2016 and was replaced by Amaury Coeytaux. ...

(2003) plays on a J.B. Vuillaume string quartet "The Evangelists" (1863) *

Guillaume Latour Guillaume Latour (born 15 March 1981) is a French violinist. He plays on a violin by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume dated 1830. Life Born in Les Lilas, Latour began studying the violin at the age of 7. He first studied at the Bayonne music school, th ...

(1981-) plays on a 1830 Vuillaume *EnAccord String Quartet (1998) plays on 2 violins (1829) and a viola (1867) from J.B. Vuillaume *Hsiao-mei Ku of the Ciompi Quartet performs on a violin made by J.B.Vuillaume *Jagdish Mistry and Rafal Zambrzycki-Payne of

Ensemble Modern Ensemble Modern is an international ensemble dedicated to performing and promoting the music of contemporary composers. Formed in 1980, the group is based in Frankfurt, Germany, and made up variously of about twenty members from numerous countri ...

both play on violins made by J.B. Vuillaume. * Gabriel Voicu since 2019 owner of "ex-Hamma" Vuillaume after playing 26 years on his own "G. Voicu A. Stradivarius" *YoungJung KIM(2023) certificated by YoungChan KIM *Olgu Kızılay (1977) plays on a Vuillaume 1862

Quotes

References

Sources

*The Hill Collection of Musical Instruments, David D. Boyden, Oxford University Press, London, 1969 * * Les Edition Montparnasse *Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, un luthier français, Evelyne Bonetat et Edith Orlando, Amis du vieux Mirecourt-Regain, Mirecourt, 1998. *Jean Baptiste Vuillaume:His Life and Work – David Sackson VSA Vol V No 4 *"Jean Baptiste Vuillaume and his Master Workmen, Part IV", Harvey S. Whistler, Violins & Violinists Magazine, January, 1948. *Les violons de maître Vuillaume, Frédéric Laurent, 1998. *Le quatuor Stradivarius Nicolo Paganini Claude Lebet, Les Amis de la Musique, Spa, 1994. *Colloque historique, 1ère rencontre de Mirecourt des 9 et 10 mai 1998, Edith Orlando, Amis du musée de la Lutherie et de l'Archèterie française, Mirecourt, 1998. *Les archets de Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, Jean-François Raffin, Groupe des luthiers et archetiers d'art de France; Association des luthiers et archetiers pour le développement de la facture instrumentale, France 1998. *Violons, Vuillaume, Cité de la musique, Musée de la musique, Paris, 1998. *Le Violon, des hommes, des œuvres, Emmanuel Jaeger, Frédéric Laurent et Jean-Michel Molkhou (CD-Rom), éditions Montparnasse / Accord Parfait, 1997. *Les Luthiers Parisiens aux XIX et XX siecles Tom 3 "Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume et sa famille : Nicolas, Nicolas-François et Sébastien" by Sylvette Milliot published by Edition les Amis des la Musique 2006 *Jost Thöne / Stephan-Peter Greiner, S.-P. Greiner: Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, Bildband mit originalgrossen Abbildungen, Bocholt 1998. *Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume – Violins and Violinists Series of Violin Makers published by William Lewis and Son *''Les Trésors de la Lutherie Française du XIXe siècle'', Paris c 1992 *The Reminiscences of a Fiddle Dealer by

*''New Grove Dictionary'' – David Charlton *Encyclopedia of the Violin – Alberto Bachmann *A. Dandelot: La Société des concerts du Conservatoire (1828–1923) (Paris, 1898)
The Société Des Concerts Du Conservatoire, 1828–1967
*C. Pierre: Le Conservatoire national de musique et de déclamation (Paris, 1900), 760 *E. Hondré, ed.: Le Conservatoire de Paris: regards sur une institution et son histoire (Paris, 1995) *W.E. Hill & Sons, Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work *"Salabue" Strad – monograph *Violins & Violinists – Farga *Antonio Stradivari – Henley *Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari – Hebert K. Goodkind *How Many Strads – E. Doring *Antonio Stradivari – Charles Beare

External links

"La petite Fille et l'Octobasse de JB Vuillaume"

A hollow steel bow by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, c. 1834
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vuillaume, Jean Baptiste 1798 births 1875 deaths Luthiers from Mirecourt 19th-century French people Burials at Montmartre Cemetery