A Fine French Cello By Marius Didier, 1942.

Marius Didier (1873-1958) began his apprenticeship in the workshops of Jerome Thibouville-Lamy in 1886 at the age of 13, where he worked every position and alongside Paul Kaul and and Joseph Aubrey under the direction of Joseph Chevrier. He eventually joined “Le Chantier des Artistes” where JTL’s most artisan instruments were crafted and excelled to the extent that many including himself has come to expect a him to assume directorship after Joseph Chevrier’s son Victor Chevrier. However, after Victor passed in 1925, the mantle was given to Andre Chevrier, Victor’s son, prompting Marius Didier to leave after 40 years and establish independently in Mattaincourt. His son, Paul Didier had just completed his apprenticeship and joined him in the new family workshop, assisting production until 1936. Digressing for a moment, Paul Didier then himself opened an independent workshop in Metz.

Having already won silver medals at the Paris Exhibition in 1984 and the Milan Exhibition in 1904, as well as “Diplome d'Honneur” at Rio de Janeiro in 1922, Marius worked fervently to advance his international recognition. He was simultaneously awarded "Officier d'Académie” and the overall gold at the Exhibition Grand Prix Hors concours Meilleur Artisan de France in 1926, and then won another gold at the 1926 Concours de Artisanat, Paris. Marius Didier made 60 cellos between 1925 and 1950, and our exceptional and highly characteristic example with a Rampal certificate is from 1942.