Joseph Arthur Vigneron (1851-1905)

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. There, he started developing his personal style, which combined elements of Bazin’s model with Voirin and Vuillaume.

In 1888, Vigneron opened up his own Parisian workshop. He perfected his craftsmanship and developed a reputation for exceptional speed; according to his nephew and fellow luthier, Charles Énel, Vigneron could produce a bow in a single day. Vigneron’s remarkable pace did not sacrifice quality, however. He produced wonderfully playable bows that are still highly prized by musicians, and he collaborated with Paris Conservatory professor and renowned violinist Lucien Capet on bows labeled “Modèle Lucien Capet.”

Around the turn of the twentieth century, Vigneron’s son, André, began working as his assistant. André would continue the family legacy, taking over the workshop after Vigneron père’s death in 1905.