Charles Georges Brugere
Mirecourt, Paris, 1865–1930
Charles Georges Brugere (1865-1930) was a distinguished French luthier, born in Mirecourt, whose father was a guitar maker. His extensive training included an apprenticeship with Etienne Drouin and working for notable makers such as Paul Blanchard, Paul Bailly, and Gand & Bernardel, before managing Eugène Henry's workshop. Establishing his own business in Paris in 1895, Brugere was celebrated for his meticulous craftsmanship, producing approximately 250 violins, often copying Stradivari and Amati models, and distinctive double basses, some adorned with lion heads. He was known for using excellent materials and a high-quality oil varnish, and for successfully improving the tone of double basses. His work garnered him significant recognition, including a silver medal at Lyons in 1894 and another award at Paris in 1900. He retired to Mirecourt in 1920, continuing repair work until his death in 1930.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
29 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label, minor table cracks, back worm, in excellent and playing condition Lot 11 | Aguttes | November 2023 | £5,378est. € 5.000-7.000 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Workshop of | — | June 2011 | £2,640 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1914 n°209 | — | June 2011 | £4,409 |
| Cello | 76.1 cm Ascribed to | — | April 2010 | £7,856 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Paris, 1905 | — | October 2009 | £8,033 |
| Violin | Paris, 1893 | — | June 2009 | £622 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Paris, 1905 | — | October 2008 | £10,123 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm 1900 c. Possibly by | — | October 2007 | £1,998 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Paris, 1893 #7 | — | July 2006 | £1,200 |
| Violin | Paris, 1911 #192 | — | November 2005 | £3,000 |
| Cello | 1900 c. Attributed to | — | October 2005 | £3,275 |
| Violin | Paris, 1904 #129 | — | June 2005 | £4,747 |
| Violin | 1893 #7 | — | May 2005 | £404 |
| Violin | Paris, 1899 | — | February 2005 | £2,988 |
| Violin | Paris, 1926 | — | February 2005 | £3,840 |
| Violin | Paris, 1808 #170 | — | December 2004 | £6,186 |
| Viola | 40 8 cm Paris 1897 #87 | — | November 2004 | £1,610 |
| Violin | 1891 | — | June 2003 | £6,773 |
| Violin | 1927 | — | June 2002 | £3,585 |
| Violin | 1927 | — | November 2001 | £2,600 |
| Violin | 1929 | — | December 2000 | £2,548 |
| Violin | 1911 | — | March 1999 | £1,800 |
| Violin | 1900 | — | March 1994 | £1,610 |
| Violin | 1905 | — | March 1990 | £4,400 |
| Violin | 1896 | — | March 1990 | £605 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 56 g. | — | November 1989 | £1,100 |
| Violin | 18-- | — | May 1986 | £1,296 |
| Violin | 1909 | — | November 1985 | £3,520 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | September 1982 | £462 |
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Maker Overview
Life
Charles Georges Brugere (1865-1930) was born on November 10, 1865, in Mirecourt, France, the son of Charles Joseph Brugère, a guitar maker. He was apprenticed to Etienne Drouin in Mirecourt from 1878 to 1882. Following his apprenticeship, he worked for Paul Blanchard in Lyons for two and a half years, and then for Paul Bailly in Paris for nine months. From December 1885 until 1892, he was employed by Gand & Bernardel in Paris. He served as workshop manager for Eugène Henry from 1892 to 1895, having succeeded Eugène Henry on September 22, 1892, at 151, Rue St. Martin, Paris. In 1895, he established his own business at 11, Faubourg Poissonière. He retired to Mirecourt in 1920, although he continued to perform repair work. He died in 1930.
Characteristics
- Workmanship
- He worked with extreme care, completing only one violin per month, resulting in approximately twelve new instruments annually.
- Production
- He made about 250 violins, often copying Stradivari and Amati models, and also produced four double basses, some of which featured lion heads.
- Patterns
- He primarily followed the Stradivari pattern.
- Materials & Varnish
- He utilized excellent materials and applied a good quality oil varnish, which varied in color from orange-red to golden-brown, or yellow to golden-red.
- Labeling
- Only instruments that he completed entirely himself were labeled with his name. Instruments made by his employees were labeled: "Fait dans I’atelier de Charles Brugère Paris 1899".
- Innovation
- He successfully improved the tone quality of the double bass through modifications in its construction.
- Numbering
- His instruments were consecutively numbered.
- Charles Brugère
année 1893
No. 10
151 Rue St Martin. Paris. Charles Brugère
11 Rue du Faub: Poissonnière 11
No. 94. Paris 1900John Dilworth - Charles Brugère, Luthier
11 Fauborg Poissonnière,
no . 232 Paris An. 1920John Dilworth - Instruments made by his employees labelled: Fait dans I’atelier de Charles Brugère Paris 1899John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Apprenticeship: He was apprenticed to Etienne Drouin in Mirecourt from 1878 to 1882.
- Mentorship: He worked as an assistant for Paul Blanchard in Lyons, Paul Bailly in Paris, and Gand & Bernardel in Paris.
- Family Background: His father, Charles Joseph Brugère, was a maker of guitars.
- Awards: He was awarded a silver medal for a double quintet exhibited at Lyons in 1894, and received other awards, including one at Paris in 1900.
- Exhibitions: He exhibited at Lyons in 1894 and was well-represented at the Paris Exhibition in 1900.
- Reputation: His violins and violoncellos were reported to possess a powerful and sweet tone, and his double basses were considered equally excellent on all four strings.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
BRUGÈRE, Charles Georges Born 1865, died 1930 Mirecourt France. Son of Charles Joseph Brugère, below. Apprenticed to Etienne Drouin at Mirecourt 1878-1882. Worked for Paul Blanchard in Lyons and Gand and Bernardel in Paris 1885-1892. Workshop manager for Eugène Henry 1892-1895. Established own business at 11, Faubourg Poissonière 1895, retiring in 1920 to Mirecourt, although still carrying out repair work. Made about 250 Stradivari and Amati copies of fine workmanship; also four double basses with lion heads. Excellent materials. Good quality oil varnish of orange-red to golden-brown colours. Silver medal awarded for a double quintet exhibited at Lyons 1894; other awards include Paris 1900. Instruments numbered and branded internally. Charles Brugère / année 1893 / No. 10 / 151 Rue St Martin. Paris. Charles Brugère / 11 Rue du Faub: Poissonnière 11 / No. 94. Paris 1900 Charles Brugère, Luthier / 11 Fauborg Poissonnière,/ no . 232 Paris An. 1920. Instruments made by his employees labelled: Fait dans I’atelier de Charles Brugère Paris 1899
Cecie Stainer+
b. Nov 10, 1865, at Mirecourt; son of Charles Joseph Brugere, a maker of guitars. Apprenticed, 1878, at Mirecourt, to Etienne Drouin. 1882, went to Lyons to work for two and a half years under Paul Blanchard; then after nine months with Paul Bailly at Paris, entered the workshop of Gand & Bernardel, where he remained from Dec, 1885, till 1892.
He succeeded Eugene Henry, Sept. 22, 1892, at 151, rue St. Martin, Paris. As he and three workmen are almost exclusively employed in repairing old instruments, he only makes about twelve new instruments a year; these, whether violins, violas, or violoncellos, are consecutively numbered as made, and only when his own personal work are labelled with his name. He follows the Stradivari pattern, and uses good oil varnish, varying in colour from yellow to golden-red.
He exhibited at Lyons, 1894, a double quintet of instruments ; the violins and violoncellos were reported of powerful and sweet tone, and the double-bass as equally excellent on all four strings; he was awarded the first silver medal.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Sohn von Charles Joseph Br. und Schüler von Etienne Drouin in Mirecourt.
Er arbeitete als Gehilfe bei Blanchard in Lyon, bei P. Bailly und bei Gand und
übernahm am 22. Sept. 1892 die alte Werkstatt der Familie Henry in der Rue
St. Martin. Er arbeitet ungemein sorgfältig, so dass er in jedem Monat nur
eine Geige fertig bekommt, die er nach Stradivari baut und mit einem gelben
bis goldrothen Lack versieht. Nur in die Geigen, die er vollkommen allein
fertig macht, klebt er seinen Zettel. Er besitzt bereits mehrere silberne Medaillen und war auch 1900 auf der Pariser Ausstellung gut vertreten. Eine Verbesserung der Klangfarbe des Contrabässes ist ihm durch Änderungen in der Bauart recht wohl gelungen.
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