A French Violin By J.F. Xavier Couturieux-Deroux, Circa 1830-1840.

Joseph Francois Xavier Couturieux-Deroux (1792-1855) operated an independent workshop in Mirecourt, France from 1830-1850. He married Anne Agnes Deroux (1792-1853) in 1812 and began hyphenating his name - a common practice in this era to reinforce family connections in common trades. Oddly enough, Xavier’s younger brother J.J. Michel Couturieux (1801-1873) married Anne Agnes Deroux’s sister, also named Agnes Deroux (1804-1870). The Agnes’ father was actually a butcher, but his brother’s children and their children thereafter became luthiers for generations, including the likes of Georges and Sebastian August Deroux. Eventually, this lineage evolved into the celebrated Millant family.

This example of J.F. Xavier Couturieux-Deroux probably dages to the early 1830’s, assuredly made before 1840. It presents in a good state of preservation, with only a few older and well-repaired cracks of superficial significance, and patina consistent with almost 200 years of use. The varnish remains in original condition, with a slight sun-bleaching across the treble side - indicating it had been left hanging in front of a window for years. Beautiful irregular flame for the one-piece maple back. Objectively, typical but not ungraceful work for the era. The volutes and eyes of the scroll, particularly pleasing.