A French Violin From Laberte-Humbert Freres, First Q. 20th C.
Higher end trade fiddles from the upper echelon of Mirecourt making firms of the first half of the 20th century are increasingly in demand as competitive alternatives to the more expensive Chinese and contemporary Bulgarian instruments prevalent through the market today; priced still significantly lower than well regarded modern makers and offering a tradition in craftsmanship and performance spanning over a centennial now and some generations of dedicated musicians.
Presenting in inarguably mint condition, this French violin after Stradivari is a prime example of precisely why we have come to hold the better of these traditions dear. It offers an aesthetic that at once demonstrates exacting attention to detail, careful selection of tone woods, and the characteristically highly translucent golden orange varnish which decorates finer Mirecourt productions of the era. Retaining its original rosewood pegs, this Laberte-Humbert Freres violin dates the first quarter of the 20th century: featuring a 357mm matchbooked two piece maple back of descending flame, mirrored ribs, and tight even grained spruce for the top.