On June 3rd, during our auction dedicated to string quartet instruments, a very beautiful violin made in 1907 by the House of Caressa and Français in Paris will be presented.

Numbered 251 and measuring 357 mm on the back, it bears its original label as well as the Caressa and Français brand marks inside. This violin stands out for its high-quality craftsmanship and perfect state of preservation.

Also beautifully decorated on the back, the instrument was presented in 1909 to Madame Berthe Fidide on the occasion of her violin prize at the National Conservatory of Music. The jury of the competition was chaired by Gabriel Fauré and included notable figures such as the conductor Édouard Colonne, as well as the eminent French violinists and pedagogues Jacques Thibaud and Jules Boucherit.


Portrait of Madame Berthe Fidide

A vibrant testimony to the French musical heritage, to its dedicatee whose virtuosity and finesse of play were praised by audiences of the time, to the renown of an illustrious lineage of instrument making founded by Nicolas Lupot in 1806, and to the close link perpetuated by Albert Caressa and Henri Français with the Conservatoire de Paris, this violin has since been carefully preserved by her family.

Great French violin by Caressa and Français
Made in Paris in 1907, numbered 251
Bearing original label and brand marks inside
Magnificent coat of arms on the back from the National Conservatory of Music for Madame Berthe Fidide
Perfect state of preservation
Ready to play
357 mm on the back
Estimate: €8,000 - €10,000

Upcoming Instruments & Bows of the String Quartet auction in preparation
Thursday, June 3, 2024 at 2:30 PM

For any further information or to include a lot in our upcoming auction, please contact:
Hector Chemelle
+33 7 69 02 70 85
chemelle@aguttes.com