A Good “Breton” Violin From JTL, Circa 1875-1885.

Joseph-Francois Breton (fl. 1778 - d. 1837) was a masterful and prolific craftsman who bridged the gap between the preceding styles of the Second Vieux-Paris School and the broader Stradivarius inspired patterns which flourished prevalently through the traditions of 19th century French violin making. After training and working in Paris, he established an independent workshop in Mirecourt in 1803 and achieved such success that by 1830 his name became virtually synonymous with the growth of Mirecourt into a major European center for the instrument trade. So much so that various shops in France and Germany began utilizing his name to brand trade instruments immediately after his death in 1837, including Laberte and JTL to name a few.

There are but a few firms who one might claim have contributed to and shaped our industry as much as that of JTL, a powerhouse of craftsmanship operating from 1857-1968, which produced as many as 150,000 instruments, bows, and other products yearly at its height and employed over 1000 craftsmen. Their extensive catalogue and collections serviced every niche of the classical music industry, ranging from commercial instruments a child might start their musical journey on to definitive works still honored and sought after today by performers and collectors alike, as well as everything you could imagine in between.

This beautiful French violin labeled, “Breton Brevete De S.A.R.M.E” was crafted between 1875 and 1885 in the JTL Workshops and offers a quality in craftsmanship that is typically not readily seen from like-branded trade instruments even a decade later. Offering a very gratifying balance between resistance and response, color and clarity,  and power and modularity.