France School
Felix Albert Caressa
Nice, Paris, 1866–1939
Felix Albert Caressa (1866-1939) was a prominent French luthier who apprenticed at Gand and Bernardel before establishing his own business with Henri Français in 1901. Their firm, Caressa & Français, succeeded Gustave Bernardel and was known for producing high-quality stringed instruments, particularly violins modelled after the Lupot style. Caressa received significant recognition, including being decorated Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur and serving as a juror at international exhibitions.
Auction price history
Highest auction price
95 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Labelled Albert Caressa, luthier du Conservatoire de Musique, no. 140 Paris 1926, branded Lot 80 | Tarisio | October 2024 | £10,800est. £ 8,000-12,000 |
| Violin | With the coat of arms of Conservatoire de Music to the back, in excellent and playing condition Lot 36 | Aguttes | November 2023 | £8,820est. € 8.000-9.000 |
| Cello | Labelled Albert Caressa Luthier du Conservatoire de Musique No. 44 Paris 1923 Lot 34 | Tarisio | November 2023 | £38,076est. $ 40,000-60,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Albert Caressa, Luthier du Conservatoire de Musique, No 116 Paris 1924 Lot 88 | Tarisio | October 2023 | £6,275est. € 5.000-8.000 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Paris, 1906 n°186 | — | December 2011 | £3,699 |
| Violin Bow | 48.7 g. without hair | — | December 2011 | £951 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm 1920 c. | — | November 2011 | £3,693 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 56 g. | — | June 2011 | £1,560 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 78.5 g. | — | December 2010 | £1,368 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Paris, 1926 | — | October 2010 | £5,400 |
| Viola | 40.2 cm Paris, 1905-1910 c. | — | June 2010 | £8,285 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1920 n°570 | — | June 2010 | £4,971 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1912 | — | April 2010 | £6,678 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Paris, 1926 | — | April 2009 | £6,773 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Paris, 1925 #105 | — | December 2008 | £5,938 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Paris, 1914 #455 | — | June 2008 | £5,570 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm | — | April 2008 | £1,143 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Workshop of | — | October 2007 | £1,199 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 48.4 g, Paris, 1910 c. (without hair & lapping) | — | October 2007 | £875 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Paris, 1935, #225 | — | June 2007 | £2,485 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Workshop of | — | May 2007 | £1,267 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57.5 g. | — | March 2007 | £2,300 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1918 With a gilded presentation appliqué to the back dated 1919. | — | October 2006 | £7,969 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Paris, 1926 | — | July 2006 | £6,000 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Paris, 1907 | — | June 2006 | £7,689 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | November 2005 | £3,632 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57 g. | — | November 2005 | £3,632 |
| Cello | Paris, 1920 c. Workshop | — | October 2005 | £4,351 |
| Violin | Paris, 1904 | — | May 2005 | £5,974 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 63 g. | — | May 2005 | £1,320 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 79 g. | — | April 2005 | £2,193 |
| Cello | Paris, 1909 | — | May 2004 | £15,441 |
| Violin | 1908 | — | December 2003 | £4,947 |
| Cello Bow | N/E 78 g. | — | July 2003 | £2,160 |
| Violin | 1913 | — | July 2003 | £7,200 |
| Cello | 1926 | — | June 2003 | £19,165 |
| Violin | 1920 c. | — | October 2002 | £1,970 |
| Violin | 1923 | — | October 2002 | £2,425 |
| Violin | 1913 | — | June 2002 | £6,281 |
| Violin | 1920 c. | — | June 2002 | £868 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | September 2001 | £935 |
| Violin | 1905 | — | June 2001 | £8,400 |
| Violin | 1917 | — | June 2001 | £4,791 |
| Violin | 1924 | — | June 2001 | £4,887 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | March 2001 | £1,320 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | February 2001 | £1,725 |
| Violin | 1910 | — | December 2000 | £4,387 |
| Violin | 1923 | — | November 2000 | £4,560 |
| Viola | 39.5 cm 1926 | — | June 2000 | £3,450 |
| Violin | 1912 | — | June 2000 | £5,549 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. | — | March 2000 | £1,380 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | October 1999 | £275 |
| Violin | 1924 | — | May 1999 | £2,300 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 66 g. | — | March 1999 | £632 |
| Cello | 1924 | — | December 1998 | £8,757 |
| Violin | 1927 | — | June 1998 | £3,984 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | November 1997 | £1,035 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. | — | November 1997 | £1,955 |
| Violin Bow | N/E 60 g. | — | July 1997 | £747 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. | — | March 1997 | £4,600 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. | — | November 1996 | £1,725 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. | — | June 1996 | £2,185 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | June 1996 | £2,760 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 56 g. | — | March 1996 | £1,380 |
| Violin | 19-- | — | November 1994 | £3,547 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 77 g. | — | May 1994 | £1,781 |
| Viola | 40.0 cm 1907 | — | March 1994 | £7,475 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 74 g. | — | November 1993 | £2,860 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 80 g. | — | October 1993 | £2,530 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 72 g. | — | May 1993 | £587 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 77 g. | — | May 1993 | £1,320 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | May 1993 | £1,833 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 55 g. | — | June 1992 | £990 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | March 1992 | £1,760 |
| Violin | 1920 | — | November 1991 | £9,350 |
| Violin | 1933 | — | November 1990 | £3,520 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. | — | November 1990 | £880 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 63 g. | — | March 1990 | £1,705 |
| Violin | 1902 | — | June 1989 | £3,740 |
| Violin | 1905 | — | June 1989 | £6,600 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | March 1989 | £935 |
| Violin | 1902 | — | November 1988 | £4,950 |
| Violin | 1905 | — | June 1988 | £5,500 |
| Violin | 1927 | — | November 1987 | £4,400 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 70 g. | — | June 1987 | £572 |
| Violin | 1912 | — | November 1986 | £4,840 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 67 g. | — | March 1986 | £1,155 |
| Violin | 1903 | — | July 1985 | £2,700 |
| Violin | 1916 | — | June 1985 | £2,112 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 68 g. | — | June 1985 | £938 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | January 1984 | £910 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. | — | November 1982 | £605 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | October 1982 | £330 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 58 g. | — | March 1981 | £1,065 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 75 g. | — | June 1980 | £281 |
No results match those filters.
Maker Overview
Life
Felix Albert Caressa (1866-1939) was born in 1866 and died in 1939 in Paris, France. He apprenticed at Gand and Bernardel until 1901, when he established his own business at 12, rue de Madrid, Paris, with Henri Français., after working for ten years in the business he already managed in 1900, Felix Albert Caressa became the successor to Gustave Bernardel on July 1, 1901, together with Henri Français. The firm was then known as Caressa & Français, Successeurs de Gustave Bernardel, anciennes maisons Lupot et Gand et Bernardel, located at 4 passage Saulnier in Paris.
Characteristics
- Models
- Violins were modelled after the Lupot style.
- Labels
- Many instruments bore the label of Gustave Bernardel.
- Production
- Caressa & Français made all classes of stringed instruments in the best French tradition.
- Bows
- Bows were branded 'CARESSA', 'Caressa & Français / Luthiers du Conservatoire de Musique / No.. Paris. 19..', 'Albert Caressa Luthier du Conservatoire de Musique / No.. Paris 19..', or 'Fait sous la direction de / Caressa & Français / Luthiers du Conservatoire / 12 Rue de Madrid à Paris 1901 à 1920'.
- Experts at the Civil Tribunal of the Seine. Bows branded: ‘CARESSA’ Caressa & Français
Luthiers du Conservatoire de Musique
No.. Paris. 19..John Dilworth - Albert Caressa Luthier du Conservatoire de Musique
No.. Paris 19..John Dilworth - Fait sous la direction de
Caressa & Français
Luthiers du Conservatoire
12 Rue de Madrid à Paris 1901 à 1920John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Training: Felix Albert Caressa apprenticed at Gand and Bernardel.
- Succession: He succeeded Gustave Bernardel, forming the firm Caressa & Français, Successeurs de Gustave Bernardel, which also acknowledged the 'anciennes maisons Lupot et Gand et Bernardel'.
- Honors: Felix Albert Caressa was decorated Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1910 and became an Officer of the Academy in 1922.
- Awards: Caressa & Français won awards at St. Louis and Liège in 1905.
- Juror Roles: He served as a juror at the Milan Exhibition in 1906, London in 1908, Brussels in 1910, and Turin in 1911.
- Expertise: He was an expert at the Civil Tribunal of the Seine.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
CARESSA, Felix Albert Born 1866, died 1939 Paris France. Apprenticed at Gand and Bernardel until 1901, when he established his own business at 12, rue de Madrid, Paris with Henri Français. Decorated Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, 1910. Officer of the Academy 1922. Violins modelled after the Lupot style, many bearing the label of Gustave Bernardel. Caressa & Français made all classes of stringed instruments in the best French tradition, winning awards at St. Louis and Liège 1905. Jurors at the Milan Exhibition 1906, London 1908, Brussels 1910, and Turin 1911. Experts at the Civil Tribunal of the Seine. Bows branded: ‘CARESSA’ Caressa & Français / Luthiers du Conservatoire de Musique / No.. Paris. 19.. Albert Caressa Luthier du Conservatoire de Musique / No.. Paris 19.. Fait sous la direction de / Caressa & Français / Luthiers du Conservatoire / 12 Rue de Madrid à Paris 1901 à 1920
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Schüler von Gand und Bernardel. Nachdem er 10 Jahre in dem Geschäfte
thätig war, das er 1900 bereits leitete, wurde er am 1. Juli 1901 mit Henri
Français zusammen der Nachfolger von Gustave Bernardel. Die Firma lautet
jetzt: Caressa & Français, Successeurs de Gustave Bernardel, anciennes maisons
Lupot et Gand et Bernardel 4 passage Saulnier à Paris. Er baut nach Lupot
und verwendet Gust. Bernardel’s Zettel.
Sell your instrument with Amati
Get started by uploading photos of your instrument for our experts to review.
Sell your instrument with Amati
Get started by uploading photos of your instrument for our experts to review.
