A French Violin By Francois Salzard, Between 1836 And About 1840.

Francois Salzard (1808-1874) established an independent workshop in Mirecourt in 1836. Francois’ son, Ernst Andre Salzard was born in 1842 and emigrated to Russia in 1863 - first to Moscow, and then to St. Petersburg, where he worked as violin maker to the Imperial Court. Like many successful makers of the era, the burgeoning giants in the industry later used their names for lines of commercial instruments made for export. Francois Salzard was used as a trade name by Jerome Thibouville Lamy as early as 1867. In truth, valuations of Salzard’s work have until recently been somewhat suppressed by association with the lower-end JTL copies and other commercial use of the Salzard name from Germany.

This violin by Francois Salzard is a highly characteristic example from his Mirecourt workshop between 1836 and about 1840. It presents in clean condition with little wear and no repairs to speak of, boasting a one-piece back of tight, irregular flame measuring 362mm. The maker’s brand is clearly visible, stamped into the button on the back. It is the second example of Francois Salzard we have available at Cohen Violins and is more representative of the violins we most commonly associate with the output of Salzard than the earlier and in many ways purer example of his personal work dating to perhaps a decade earlier; more overtly similar to those later like-named trade instruments from JTL in appearance but of clearly higher quality construction.

At over 180 years old, it boasts a large, commendable voice with a well seasoned quality that we readily recommend for the advancing performer who wants an older instrument in perfect condition with a definitive attribution!