Vieux Paris Violin By Louis Guersan, Circa 1755-1760.

An exceptionally interesting Vieux Paris Violin, circa 1755-1760, by the hand of Louis Guersan (c.1700-1770), a protege of Claude Pierray who assumed leadership of the workshop and was later appointed as both maker and restorer to both the Dauphin and Opera; generous arching and a back length of exactly 356mm. The violin remains in an excellent state of preservation and has a remarkable color to its voice, which is surprisingly powerful for something with such pronounced arching, extending almost to the blocks. Bearing an internal label attributing it as the work of Andrea Castanegri, 1740. However, the results of Dendrochronology analysis determined that the latest ring of the bass side date to 1751 and 1740 for the treble side, meaning that the spruce originated from two different trees. Positive matches with two other Guersan instruments, a Gaffino, a Leclerc, and a Jean Louvet.