Jean-Baptiste and his younger brother, Nicolas Vuillaume, played an important role for stringed instrument making in France in the 19th century. Jean-Baptiste produced high-quality instruments under the brand name of “Saint-Cécile des Thernes” in collaboration with his younger brother Nicolas; Nicolas prepared materials and was in charge of earlier stages of the production, and Jean-Baptiste finished them including coating in Paris.
Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume was born on the 7th of October in 1798 to a violin making family in Mirecourt. In 1818, he moved to Paris to learn in ateliers of François Chanot and Nicolas Antoine Lété, and in 1827, he established his own atelier on Rue Croix des Petits Champs. Vuillaumemade precise copies of renowned Cremonese craftsmen’s artwork, including Stradivari and Guarneri. From his atelier, excellent makers were sent to the world: Pierre & Hippolyte Silvestre, Charles A. Maucotel and Joseph Louis Germain. Vuillaume also took part in invention of new instruments: the octobass and the contralto, anddesigned innovative bows: hollow steel bows and self-hairing bows. His artwork was highly reputed inside and outside of France, andreceived gold medals in London International Exposition of 1851 and Paris International Exposition of 1855.
Nicolas Vuillaume was born on the 21st of May in 1800 in Mirecourt as Jean-Baptiste's younger brother. After working in his brother’s atelier in Paris from 1832 to 1842, he moved back to Mirecourt to engage himself in making Antoine Darte’s brand for students: “Stentor.” With experiences at his brother’s atelier, through making instruments for students, he made great contribution to wide-spreading violin making.
This violin was made around 1850 and holds a drawing of Saint Cecile on the back with a note “St. Cecile des Thernes” just under it.
Its flat arch is one of Vuillaume’s characteristics. A very practical rare artwork with brilliant sound.