Violin N E Simoutre 1889

Violin N E SIMOUTRE 1889
Rare and important violin by Nicolas Eugène SIMOUTRE made in 1889 This violin has a back in a single piece of flamed maple measuring 359 mm. The very personal and rare elegance scroll has ebony pegs. Spruce top protected by a dark red varnish. The bridge is signed A Vidoudez Geneva We attach photos of the interior of the instrument which attest to the creativity of this luthier in particular inventions. Here is the information relating to this great French luthier: SIMOUTRE Nicolas Eugène. Son and student of the above. Born in Mirecourt, on 19-4-1834. Worked at Darche from 1852 to 1856 and then at Roth, in Strasbourg, where he already had, place du Dôme, a small workshop. In 1860, he settled in Basel and had a branch in Mulhouse. It was only 30 years later that he founded his house in Paris, at 38, rue de l'Echiquier. He moved it permanently to 21, Faubourg Poissonnière and died in Geneva in January 1908. He was a conscientious researcher who made all sorts of inventions that he described in small brochures entitled: A progress in violin making Harmonic support. Berheim in Basel, 1886, in-8° with 5 pl. - Second progress in violin making, published a year later. - For violin lovers. History, construction, repair and conservation of this instrument. Basel, 1883, in-8° (a supplement appeared in 1889). — In 1885 and 1887, he took out patents for these inventions and, at the Exhibitions of 1861 (Metz), 1877 (Basel), 1889 and 1900 (Paris), he obtained the best rewards. His son Eugène was established before 1914 in Paris, 5, place de Valois. This violin Violon N E SIMOUTRE 1889 is in playable condition. Note a repaired crack on the right side of the table parallel to the fingerboard. It is not common to find instruments by this great master luthier known both for his fabrications and for his repairs. He was the son and pupil of Nicolas Simoutre born in Mirecourt in 1788, pupil of Nicolas Lupot in Paris and died in 1870.