A great condition French violin, made in first half of 20 century. This violin was made by Laberte-Humbert – well known and recognized French manufacture in Mirecourt. 

Marc Laberte (1880–1963) was a prominent French luthier who led the Laberte-Humbert Frères firm in Mirecourt, a major center of French violin making. His atelier produced instruments ranging from high-quality soloist models to commercially-made instruments. Higher quality models were labeled “Fait sous la Direction de Marc Laberte / Maitre Luthier” meaning “Made under the direction of Marc Laberte / Master Luthier” and such label can be found in this violin. 

This violin is based on a Stradivari “Lady Blunt” model from Stradivari’s “Late Golden Period.”

Stradivarius 1721 of Laberte-Humberte was a very good quality model, made of high quality tone wood. You can see the beautiful flames on back, ribs and even neck and head. Whole violin is very elegantly made, very carefully. Beautifully cut f-holes. Very nice edges and corners. Beautiful, boldly and cleanly carved scroll, with a well-defined volute (spiral). The throat is full, and the overall execution is precise and very consistent, which is a hallmark of high-quality. A rich, somewhat darker red, amber color varnish. The varnish is deliberately “antiqued” or “shaded” (faux-wear), particularly visible on the lower bouts of the front, a common feature in high-grade workshop instruments from Marc Laberte to create the illusion of age.

Top plate made of fine grained spruce, back plate made of beautiful two-piece board flamed maple. Chinrest and tailpiece are made of ebony, pegs are made of ebony. Tailpiece is Conrad Goetz brand. Fingerboard made of ebony. 

Inside there are three labels and one handwritten signature that say: 

1. “Fait sous la Direction de Marc Laberte / Maitre Luthier / Mirecourt (Vosges) / FRANCE No. 2703”
2. “Copie de Antonius Stradiuarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno 1721”
3. “Grand Prix Paris 1931 / Exposition Internationale Bruxelles 1935 / Exposition Internationale New-York 1939”
4. Handwritten signature – letter “G”

The black handwritten letter “G” visible near the label is most likely the handwritten signature or mark of one Laberte’s senior makers. Such handwritten marks or letters were used to designate and authenticate the instruments produced by senior makers.

The additional lines listing prizes (Grand Prix Paris 1931, Exposition Internationale Bruxelles 1935, Exposition Internationale New-York 1939) are typical of the Laberte firm’s best models, highlighting the workshop’s reputation and quality of their copies and original work.

This violin has been restored by a  chairman of Polish Violin Makers Association Mr. Pielaszek. He is father or recent international star of violin making – Piotr Pielaszek, who has won many awards and whose violins reach 30+ thousand EUR. He put his properly adjusted bridge on this violin – signed Marek Pielaszek.   

The violin is equipped with new strings: Larsen Tzigane (Medium). They offer smooth and saturated sound with excellent focus and projection. G, D and A strings are made using a multi-filament nylon core. The G and D strings are wound pure silver flat wire, the A string is aluminum. The E string is made of a carbon steel. These strings are used by e.g. Alina Pogostkina.

Size:

Body length – 357mm

Upper body – 165mm

Lower body – 204mm

Excellent noble sound. Very satisfying, deep in lower registers and melodic in higher registers. Crisp precise sound. Very selective and responding. Especially beautiful higher registers on A and E string, very “Mozart” type melodic. This violin offers a whole scope of sounds – from delicate sweet to bright open with great projection. As it has a very good projection, it sounds well on the stage and in concert hall. It’s very versatile and broad scope of colors and tones.