Mirecourt – A Storied History of French Violin Making

Early Violin Making in Mirecourt

The origin of violin-making in the northeastern French city of Mirecourt is debated, but a vibrant picture emerges from 17th century records. As many as 50 luthiers were operating in Mirecourt in the 1600s, and the oldest surviving apprenticeship contracts date as far back as 1629.

The Mirecourt Guild and Expanded Economy

In 1732, Mirecourt established an official guild of master violin makers. The guild formulated strict rules governing training and quality control. The emerging guild system produced a large number of highly skilled craftsmen, many of whom took their knowledge to other cities across France and beyond. A number of these artisans eventually returned to Mirecourt as master luthiers, bolstering local violin-making with their enhanced skills.

At the same time, international trade was expanding at an unprecedented rate. Mercantilism and the burgeoning Industrial Revolution gave Europeans access to resources from all over the world, and Mirecourt quickly established itself as a commercial center. Mirecourt’s luthiers gained not only increased business but also access to an invaluable material: Pernambuco wood imported from Brazil.

Influential Violin Makers from Mirecourt in the 19th Century

By the turn of the 19th century, Mirecourt had become a vital center of violin-making. The Mirecourt style was both outwardly influential and also reflected Baroque craftsmanship from Italy and Germany. In his Parisian workshop, Nicolas Lupot (1758-1824) emulated the Cremonese masters and became known as the “French Stravidari.” Mirecourt’s violin-makers followed Lupot’s lead. Didier Nicolas, who became one of most recognized names of French lutherie, crafted his highest-quality instruments on a model inspired by Stradivarius. 

Jean Baptiste Vuillaume (1798-1875) emerged as one of the most highly acclaimed violin makers in the world, and Mirecourt’s ongoing reputation as an epicenter of violin-making is largely due to his far-reaching influence. Vuillaume used Lupot’s model as a jumping off point for the creation of his distinctive style. Other well-known Mirecourt luthiers include the Bernardel family, the Chanot family, the Collin-Mezin family, the Derazey family, Amédée Dieudonné, the Gand family, and Laberte-Humbert Frères.