Mirecourt-born archetier Eugène Nicolas Sartory (1871-1946) studied bow-making with his father before apprenticing under Charles Peccatte and Joseph Alfred Lamy père in Paris. Sartory’s early head design indicates that he may also have learned from Joseph Arthur Vigneron, who was his relative by marriage. Lamy’s influence on the young artisan is particularly apparent, but Sartory …
François Nicolas Voirin (1833-1885) Known as “the Modern Tourte,” François Nicolas Voirin earned a place in history as one of France’s most skilled and influential archetiers. Born to a Mirecourt organ builder and gardener, Voirin joined his brother, Joseph, and cousin, Jean Baptiste Vuillaume, in the bow-making trade. He apprenticed under Jean Simon before joining …
Ernst Heinrich Roth (1877-1948) Born in the legendary violin-making center of Markneukirchen, Ernst Heinrich Roth displayed a remarkable musical talent from an early age. He had perfect pitch and quickly became proficient on violin, viola, cello, piano, and trumpet. As he matured, Roth began apprenticing in his father, Gustav Robert Roth’s workshop. He then traveled …
Ernst Heinrich Roth – Violin Maker – Markneukirchen Read More »
Nicolas Lupot (1758-1824) Although born in Stuttgart, Germany, Nicolas Lupot rose to become one of France’s most celebrated luthiers. Lupot’s family had roots in the violin-making center of Mirecourt, and at the time of his birth, his father, François Lupot, was serving as the court lute and violin maker to the Duke of Württemburg. After …
Joseph Arthur Vigneron (père) was born in Mirecourt and apprenticed under his stepfather, archetier Claude Nicolas Husson. Vignernon’s training emphasized the local school of bow-making, particularly Charles Nicolas Bazin’s model. After Husson’s death in 1872, Vigneron started working in Jean-Joseph Martin’s workshop, and in 1880, Vigneron accepted a position in Gand & Bernardel’s Paris atelier. …
André Vigneron (fils) studied bow-making under his father, Joseph Arthur Vigneron (père). He eventually rose to become an assistant in Vigneron père’s Paris atelier and collaborated with his father and violinist Lucien Capet on the “Modèle Lucien Capet” bow. After Vigneron père’s death in 1905, Vigneron fils took over the family workshop. His early bows …
Claude Auguste Thomassin, born in Mirecourt, France, grew up amidst a family of saddle, bow and violin makers and ultimately developed into one of the most highly acclaimed bow makers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He apprenticed as a bow maker in the workshop of Charles Nicolas Bazin, whose reputation was highly …
Born into Mirecourt’s strong archetier tradition, Nicholas Rémy Maire likely studied bow-making under Étienne Pajeot. He opened his own workshop at twenty-six, but the economic stagnation that sparked France’s July Revolution bankrupted his business in 1830. However, Maire persevered. Under the name Maire-Contal, a reference to Maire’s recent marriage to Anne Contal, his new atelier …
Violists whose skills are advancing will often realize that the instrument they were using can no longer keep up. When this happens, to continue developing their skill set, they will need to upgrade to a more capable instrument. Generally, this means buying a new intermediate-level viola. Buying an intermediate viola presents a unique set of …
By combining French, German, and English influences, Hermann Richard Pfretzschner secured his place in music history with a truly international style of bow-making. Born in Germany’s “Musikwinkel,” he displayed musical talent from a young age, and he began training under his father, Carl Richard Pfretzschner. In 1871, Pfretzschner travelled to Paris to work in Jean-Baptiste …
