Nicolas (III) Vuillaume
Brussels, Mirecourt, Paris, 1800–1865
Nicolas (III) VUILLAUME (1800-1865/1871) was a French luthier, the son of Claude Vuillaume, who worked with his brother Jean-Baptiste in Paris before returning to Mirecourt to establish a business producing student-grade instruments known as "violons stentor." He received a bronze medal in 1855 for these instruments, and the ‘Stentor’ brand later became a successful line of student instruments. His son, Antoine, also trained as a luthier but died at 21.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
89 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Labelled Jean Baptiste Vuillaume à Paris, 3 rue Demours Ternes, signed to the inside back, branded Lot 130 | Tarisio | May 2024 | £15,077est. $ 20,000-30,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Jean Baptiste Vuillaume à Paris, 3 rue Demours Ternes, signed to the inside back, branded Lot 100 | Tarisio | February 2024 | £37,778est. € 12.000-18.000 |
| Cello | Lot 296 | Bonhams | October 2012 | £61,250 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1860 c. 3/4 size Workshop of | — | December 2011 | £1,275 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Mirecourt, mid 19th C. | — | November 2011 | £9,022 |
| Violin | 33.6 cm 1860 c. branded 'Stentor 1' Attributed to | — | October 2011 | £3,125 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm Mirecourt, 1840-1845 c. | — | June 2011 | £13,777 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Mirecourt, 1850 c. | — | May 2011 | £14,567 |
| Cello | 77.2 cm 1860 c. Workshop of | — | March 2011 | £7,904 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Mirecourt, 1850 c. | — | March 2011 | £13,200 |
| Violin | 36.2 cm Mirecourt, 1843 | — | December 2010 | £2,900 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Mirecourt, 1850 c. | — | October 2010 | £8,125 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Mirecourt, 1860-1865 c. | — | June 2010 | £5,385 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Mirecourt, 1850 c. | — | June 2010 | £6,214 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Mirecourt, 1850 c. (small sound-post crack unrestored) | — | June 2010 | £19,676 |
| Violin | 35.3 cm Mirecourt, 1850 c. | — | December 2009 | £2,503 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Paris, 1850 c. | — | October 2009 | £12,605 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Mirecourt, 1850 c. | — | June 2009 | £5,186 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Mirecourt, 1860 c. | — | May 2009 | £6,211 |
| Violin | 36.7 cm Mirecourt, 1860 Ascribed to | — | April 2009 | £1,693 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm "Stentor" model | — | December 2008 | £4,198 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Mirecourt, 1850 c. (head replaced, various restorations) | — | December 2008 | £4,095 |
| Violin | 37.0 cm Brussels, 1867, after "Maggini" | — | November 2008 | £2,280 |
| Viola | 39.7 cm Paris, 1850 c., "St. Cecile" model made for "J.B. Vuillaume" | — | October 2008 | £7,231 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Mirecourt, 1860 c. (restored soundpost crack) | — | June 2008 | £5,570 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Mirecourt, 1850 c. | — | June 2008 | £6,499 |
| Violin | 36.2 cm Mirecourt, 1830 | — | June 2008 | £6,499 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Mirecourt, 1850 c. | — | March 2008 | £4,680 |
| Violin | 36.2 cm Mirecourt, 1830 | — | June 2007 | £5,451 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Mirecourt, 1850 c. "Stentor 1" model (some damage to top) | — | June 2007 | £10,421 |
| Violin | 33.2 cm Mirecourt, 1850 c. 3/4 Size 'Stentor' model | — | May 2007 | £1,440 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm Mirecourt, 1846 | — | May 2007 | £6,913 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Mirecourt, 1850-1855 c. | — | December 2006 | £7,989 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Mirecourt, 1860 c. | — | October 2006 | £5,517 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm Mirecourt, 1860 c. Workshop | — | June 2006 | £4,856 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm 1855 c. "Stentor" model | — | June 2006 | £6,071 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Mirecourt, 1851 Workshop of | — | May 2006 | £3,372 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Mirecourt, 1860 c. | — | May 2006 | £6,132 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1855-1860 c. 'Stentor 3' (scroll replaced) | — | December 2005 | £4,390 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1860 c. 'Stentor 3' | — | December 2005 | £2,554 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1860 c. | — | December 2005 | £5,188 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1847 made for "J.B.Vuillaume" | — | November 2005 | £13,792 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1869 c. 'Stentor 2' model | — | June 2005 | £4,114 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1843 #7 | — | June 2005 | £2,136 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1850 c. 3/4 size | — | June 2005 | £1,899 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1860 c. 3/4 size | — | June 2005 | £1,820 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1860 'Stentor 2' model | — | June 2005 | £1,424 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1850 c. | — | May 2005 | £19,778 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1860 c. Child's size | — | May 2005 | £2,422 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1870 c. Workshop | — | May 2005 | £1,130 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1870 c. 3/4 Size | — | May 2005 | £3,663 |
| Violin | 3/4 Size 'Stentor 1' model | — | December 2004 | £3,744 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1860 c.'Stentor' model | — | December 2004 | £1,872 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1850 c. 'Stentor' model | — | November 2004 | £4,780 |
| Violin | 1/4 Size. made for "J.B. Vuillaume" | — | October 2004 | £2,704 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1850 c. | — | May 2004 | £5,019 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1851 branded "GD2" | — | March 2004 | £2,495 |
| Violin | 1860 | — | December 2003 | £4,947 |
| Cello | 1855 | — | October 2003 | £14,558 |
| Violin | 1860 | — | June 2003 | £5,000 |
| Violin | 1860 c. Labeled "Stentor" | — | May 2003 | £2,820 |
| Violin | 1850 Labeled "Stentor" | — | December 2002 | £6,432 |
| Violin | 1850 Labeled "Stentor" | — | December 2002 | £4,129 |
| Violin | 1855 Labeled "Stentor" | — | June 2002 | £5,495 |
| Violin | 1850 | — | June 2002 | £4,239 |
| Violin | 1860 | — | December 2001 | £1,986 |
| Cello | 1860 c. | — | June 2001 | £16,879 |
| Violin | 1860 | — | May 2001 | £1,950 |
| Violin | 1860 | — | March 2001 | £2,760 |
| Violin | 1850 [& J.B.) | — | December 2000 | £11,214 |
| Violin | 1860 | — | December 2000 | £1,325 |
| Violin | 1850 c. | — | November 2000 | £1,394 |
| Violin | 1860 | — | September 2000 | £1,265 |
| Violin | 1850 | — | November 1999 | £2,990 |
| Violin | 1844 | — | March 1999 | £3,910 |
| Violin | 1860 | — | March 1999 | £3,450 |
| Violin | 1860 [& J.B.) | — | March 1999 | £12,650 |
| Violin | 1870 | — | December 1998 | £2,650 |
| Violin | 1875 c. | — | November 1998 | £7,475 |
| Violin | 1860 c. Labeled "Stentor" | — | June 1998 | £1,495 |
| Violin | 1850 c. Labeled "Stentor" | — | June 1997 | £2,300 |
| Violin | 1850 c. | — | March 1997 | £5,750 |
| Violin | 1850 | — | March 1995 | £2,645 |
| Violin | 18-- | — | November 1994 | £2,016 |
| Violin | 18-- Labeled "Stentor" | — | May 1993 | £2,933 |
| Violin | 18-- Labeled "Stentor" | — | July 1992 | £2,420 |
| Violin | 18-- | — | March 1992 | £4,180 |
| Violin | 1870 c. Labeled "Stentor" | — | June 1989 | £1,760 |
| Violin | 18-- Labeled "Stentor" | — | November 1985 | £1,980 |
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Maker Overview
Life
Nicolas (III) VUILLAUME (1800-1871), identified by Cecie Stainer as the second son of Claude Vuillaume, was born in 1800 and died in 1871. However, John Dilworth states his death year as 1865 in Mirecourt, France, and identifies him as the third son of Claude-François Vuillaume (IV). He initially resided in Mirecourt but, following the loss of his wife in 1832, relocated to Paris where he worked alongside his elder brother, Jean-Baptiste, for a decade. He returned to Mirecourt in 1842, establishing his own business focused on the factory-like production of violins.
Characteristics
- Workmanship
- His instruments are described by Cecie Stainer as being of ordinary workmanship.
- Exhibitions & Awards
- He exhibited violins at low prices, known as "violons stentor," in Paris in 1855, for which he was awarded a bronze medal.
- Production Focus
- Upon his return to Mirecourt, he concentrated on the manufacture of student-grade instruments, often referred to as ‘Stentor’ models, many of which were produced by A. Darte and his wife.
- Nicolas Vuillaume NV
fecit à Mirecourt, anno 1830John Dilworth - Fabrique de
A. Darte
MirecourtJohn Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Training: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff identifies him as a pupil of Claude V.
- Mentorship: He worked for his elder brother, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, in Paris from 1832 to 1842.
- Awards: Nicolas (III) Vuillaume received a bronze medal in 1855 for his "violons stentor" exhibited in Paris.
- Family: His son, Antoine, who trained under him, died at the young age of 21.
- Brand Continuity: The ‘Stentor’ name, associated with his student instruments, was later sold to Gautrot and continues to be used by a flourishing company supplying student instruments.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
VUILLAUME, Nicolas (III) Born 1800, died 1865 Mirecourt France. Third son of Claude-François Vuillaume (IV), above. Worked for his brother Jean-Baptiste 1832-1842, then returned to Mirecourt to manufacture student grade instruments known as ‘Stentor’. These were mostly made by A. Darte and his wife, and are distinguished by the shield mark bearing the name ‘Stentor’ on the back of the scroll. The name was later sold to Gautrot, and remains a flourishing company supplying student instruments. Original N. Vuillaume instruments branded internally. Nicolas Vuillaume NV / fecit à Mirecourt, anno 1830 Fabrique de / A. Darte / Mirecourt
Cecie Stainer+
Second son of Claude Vuillaume; b 1800; d. 1871. He first lived at Mirecourt, but losing his wife in 1832, he left Mirecourt and went to Paris, where he worked with Jean Baptiste, his elder brother, for ten years. He returned to Mirecourt, starting a business there in 1842. His instruments are of ordinary workmanship ; he exhibited in Paris, 1855, violins at low prices, called ” violons stentor,” and was awarded a bronze medal. His son, Antoine, died at the age of 21.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Zweiter Sohn und Schüler von Claude V. Er arbeitete von 1832—1842 bei seinem Bruder in Paris, ging dann nach Mirecourt zurück und verlegte sich auf die fabriksmässige Herstellung von Geigen. Nach seinem eigenen Modell machte er Geigen, denen er den Namen »Violons stentor« gab. Er erhielt 1855 eine Bronce-Medaille. Sein Sohn Antoine, der bei ihm lernte, starb schon mit 21 Jahren.
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