A violin made by Charles Bailly.

Charles Bailly (1879–1957) was the son of Joseph Bailly. He studied under Georges Lotte and Paul Mangenot and worked in Mirecourt from the early 20th century. He also produced instruments for the Mougenot, Marc Laberte, and Claude François Humbert firms. He established his own workshop in 1909 and worked independently on Rue Général Mangin, where he remained active until 1926. His instruments were based on classical models, featuring a transparent golden-brown varnish. They were usually labeled with his name and often branded with an iron mark on the lower rib. His work is characterized by a high degree of precision, a bold French aesthetic, and the use of excellent tonewoods. The violin presented here, dated 1913 (instrument no. 478), represents Bailly at the height of his career, showcasing the clean, grand style that defined the late 19th- and early 20th-century French workshop tradition. Charles Bailly was the father of René Bailly, who became a violin maker as well.

Labelled:

“INSTRUMENTS D’ARTISTES, Charles Bailly, Année 1913, No 478″

Branded to the lower rib:

“CHARLES BAILLY”

Size:

Length of body: 357 mm