Jacques-Pierre Thibout

Jacques-Pierre Born 1779 Caen, died 1856 Paris. Worked for Koliker in Paris from 1796. Established independently there at 24 rue Montmartre in 1807. Moved to the rue Rameau 1810, at the sign ‘Au Roi David’. Appointed luthier to the Opéra, conservatoire, and royal court. Awarded medals in the Paris expositions of 1827, 1844, and 1855. Assisted by his son Gabriel Eugène Thibout, above. Stradivari models in the Lupot style, although inconsistent. Experimented constantly with model and varnish, but the best are of a very high order and often given false Lupot labels. First class materials. Nouveau procédé approuvé par l’Institut / Thibout, Luthier, rue Rameau / No. 8, à Paris, 1835 T.J.P. Au Roi David / Thibout, Luthier de l’Académie Royale de Musique / Rue Rameau, No. 8, à Paris

b. Sept 16, 1777, at Caen ; d. Dec. 4, 1856, at Saint-Mande, near Paris. First worked at Caen, then, in 1796, under Koliker at Paris; was married in 1800, and in 1807 established himself at 24, rue Montmartre, after 1810 moving to 8, rue Rameau. He was a remarkable maker and his instruments are much liked ; his violins soon came into notice, for by a certain treatment of the sides he gained an improvement in the pattern which produced an excellent quality of tone. The price varied from £10 to ; £14, relatively high for that period, but greatly below their present value. The workmanship and varnish were so beautiful that his instruments will bear comparison with the best Italian work ; two magnificent violins of his show peculiar richness of colouring in the varnish—a red on an amber ground. He was awarded a silver medal, 1827 ; a silver medal, 1844 ; and a first class medal at the Paris Exhibition in 1855 for an excellent violoncello. Label; ” Nouveau procede approuve par l’Institut. Thibout, luthier du roi, rue Rameau, no. 8, a Paris, 1825.”

A well-known dealer in rare Italian instruments. To him belongs the merit of having encouraged Luigi Tarisio to bring to Paris his Cremonese gems. When Tarisio paid his first visit to Paris, the reception that he met with was not of such a nature as to warrant his returning ; but having ultimately decided upon once more visiting the French capital, he met with Thibout, who, by earnest solicitation, prevailed on him to remove his rich wares to Paris. Jacques Pierre Thibout was an excellent workman, and his instruments are highly esteemed.

Wahrscheinlich ein Sohn von »Thibout fils«. Er kam 1796 nach Paris, wo er bei Koliker arbeitete. Er verheirathete sich 1800 und eröffnete 1807 in der Rue Montmartre No. 24 seine eigene Werkstatt, die er 1810 in die Rue Rameau No. 8 verlegte, wo er das Ladenschild »Au Roi David« führte, Er war der bedeutendste Geigenmacher seiner Familie und hatte sich bei Koliker zu einem sehr feinen Kenner entwickelt. Er bildete sich ein eigenes Modell; seine Arbeit ist ungemein sauber und schön, der Lack (Bernstein auf röthlichem Grund) vortrefflich und der Ton fast den Italienern gleich, so dass seine Violinen schon jetzt durchschnittlich mit 1000 M. bezahlt werden. Auch als Stegschnitzer war er von Bedeutung. Er besass viele Medaillen und Auszeichnungen und war »luthier de 1’Académic royale de musique«. Ein ganz vorzügliches Instrument von ihm besitzt das Museum des Pariser Conservatoriums (No. 45).

Born at Caen. « Au Roi David ». Pupil of Koliker. Some instruments by this master maker are among the finest of the French School. In spite of the fact that he has been unequal in his work and has varied his patterns and varnishes, he always claims attention. If some of his instruments have a heavy aspect, it is mainly due to the flattened ribs at their junction with the corners. For his varnish, he has used the whole range of colours. He was established rue Rameau.