A Stunning French Viola By Amédée Dieudonné, 1954. 420mm or 16 1/2”

Amédée Dieudonné (1890-1960) began his apprenticeship at the age of 14 under the auspices of Gustave Bazin, the son of the esteemed archetier, Charles Nicolas Bazin. After five years with Bazin, Dieudonné entered the employ of Hilaire Darche in Brussels, who had established his Belgian workshop in 1886 after working for Charles Gaillard, Nicolas Didier, and N.F. Vuillaume. Dieudonné served in WWI before establishing his own independent workshop in Mirecourt, circa 1920. He spent the next 40 years crafting instruments after the Cremonese masters and perfecting his personal models, sold the world over through some of the trade’s foremost firms and through other makers such as Wurlitzer, Laberte, Millant, Moennig, Mangenot, Blanchard, Enel, Hel, Schmitt, Nadegini, Claudot, Deloget, Pouzol, and others. He had 20 apprentices and assistants from 1920-1957 which included Marcel Voirin, Cristofaro, Guinot, Jean Eulry, Michel Lotte, Rene Bazin, Pierre Claudot, Eugene Maucotel, Jean Streibig, Marcel Thomassin, Rene Quenoil, William Moennig, Ettiene Vatelot, Rene Morel, and Bernard Millant.

Both Jean Eulry and Marcel Thomassin remained in Dieudonné’s employ through 1956 and were in the workshop when Amédée crafted this fine and highly characteristic viola from 1954. Save for a small wing crack to the treble f-hole, this 420mm or 16 1/2” viola presents in mint condition, currently fit with planetary perfection pegs. It’s slim neck and 195mm upper bout make performing on it a pleasure, lending agility to its captivating tenor voice. So finely voiced, I suspect this example won’t long remain in the shop.

Detailed Measurments:

Length of Back: 420mm or 16 1/2”

Upper Bout: 195mm

Lower Bout: 257mm

String Length: 378mm or 14 7/8”