Georges Cunault

Name: Georges Cunault auction price records, Amati Instrument Archive
Creator: Amati

Paris, Villemomble, 1856–1941

Georges Cunault (1856-1941) was a Parisian luthier known for his fine quality violins, often of large size, featuring a shaded red-brown varnish. He trained with Sebastien Vuillaume and Miremont, and later established his own workshop in Paris, relocating several times before moving to Villemomble in 1915. Cunault copied various master models and also developed his own design characterized by great fullness. He received a 'Mention honorable' at the Paris Exhibition in 1878.

Worked Paris, Villemomble

Made Cello, Viola, Violin

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£26,378

TypeDecade of saleCurrency

23 results

Type	Details	Auction house	Sold	Price
Violin	Labelled Georges Cunault, Luthier, 21 Rue de Navarin, Paris. - An 1915, address corrected Villemomble Lot 126	Tarisio	October 2024	£4,932est. € 5.000-8.000
Violin	35.1 cm Paris, 1910	—	December 2011	£8,454
Violin	35.8 cm Paris, 1900 c.	—	May 2011	£1,420
Violin	35.7 cm Villemonble, 1920	—	June 2010	£10,356
Violin	35.6 cm Paris, 1900 c. (broken heel)	—	June 2009	£3,111
Cello	76.0 cm Paris, 1912	—	June 2008	£22,282
Violin	35.7 cm Villemomble, 1924	—	June 2008	£3,899
Violin	35.6 cm Paris, 1900	—	June 2008	£4,364
Cello	76.0 cm Villemomble, 1918	—	December 2007	£26,378
Viola	40.2 cm Paris, 1883	—	June 2007	£5,611
Violin	36.0 cm Paris, 1900	—	December 2006	£1,598
Violin	1917	—	May 2003	£5,888
Violin	34.4 cm 1904	—	December 2001	£1,891
Violin	1900	—	December 1999	£6,374
Violin	1899	—	March 1997	£6,900
Violin	1892	—	November 1996	£1,115
Violin	1912	—	June 1995	£3,680
Violin	1900 c.	—	November 1994	£4,025
Cello	1901	—	June 1994	£13,800
Violin	1914	—	November 1992	£1,582
Violin	1915	—	November 1986	£3,300
Violin	1893	—	November 1986	£935
Violin	1893	—	November 1984	£330

Maker Overview

Life

Georges Cunault (1856-1941) was born in Paris in 1856 and passed away in Villemomble, France, in 1941. Sources contain conflicting information regarding the exact dates of his early career. worked for Sebastien Vuillaume and Miremont from 1874 to 1882. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states that he was a student of Sebastien Vuillaume from 1872 to 1873 and of Miremont from 1873 to 1880. Cecie Stainer corroborates that he worked with Miremont from 1874 to 1882. From 1880 to 1882, he worked from his apartment for various masters, including E. Germain. He established his own workshop in 1880, though his first public workshop opened in 1882 at 53 Faubourg Poissonnière. He subsequently relocated his workshop to several addresses in Paris: 29 rue des Martyrs in 1884, 6 rue Clauzel in 1889, and then to the Rue de Navarin. Sources differ on the initial Rue de Navarin address, with Dilworth listing 31 rue Navarin in 1893 and Lütgendorff listing 21 rue de Navarin in 1893, before finally settling at 19 rue Navarin. In 1915, Cunault relocated his operations to Villemomble.

Characteristics

Quality: His violins are often of large size but are noted for their very fine quality. Cecie Stainer further notes that his instruments demonstrate experience and careful work.
Models: Georges Cunault copied all the great masters and also possessed a self-designed model, which was characterized by its great fullness. John Dilworth specifically mentions his use of a Stradivari model.
Varnish: His instruments typically feature a shaded red-brown varnish.

Recorded labels

G. C. Georges Cunault
Luthier
Rue Clauzel 6. Paris
An 1893John Dilworth
G. C. Georges Cunault
Luthier
21 Rue de Navarin. Paris – An 1908.John Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Mentorship: Georges Cunault was a student of Sebastien Vuillaume from 1872 to 1873 and worked with Miremont from 1873 to 1880. John Dilworth and Cecie Stainer state he worked for Sebastien Vuillaume and Miremont from 1874 to 1882.
Collaborations: From 1880 to 1882, while working from his apartment, he also worked for other masters such as E. Germain.
Awards: Georges Cunault received a 'Mention honorable' at the Paris Exhibition in 1878, where he was recognized as a collaborateur.

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Biographies

The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:

John Dilworth+

CUNAULT, Georges Born 1856 Paris, died 1941 Villemomble France. Worked for Sebastien Vuillaume and Miremont 1874-1882. ‘Mention honorable’ at Paris Exhibition 1878. Own workshop established 1880 but occupied several addresses: 53 Faubourg Poissonière, 1882, 29 rue des Martyrs 1884, 6 rue Clauzet 1889, 31 rue Navarin 1893, and finally 19 rue Navarin. Relocated to Villemomble 1915. Violins often of large size but very fine quality. Stradivari model with shaded red-brown varnish. G. C. Georges Cunault / Luthier / Rue Clauzel 6. Paris / An 1893. G. C. Georges Cunault / Luthier / 21 Rue de Navarin. Paris – An 1908.

Cecie Stainer+

b. 1856, Paris ; was apprenticed there, and worked with Miremont, 1874-82; obtaining, at the Paris Exhibition, 1878, a ” Mention honorable” as collaborateur. 1882, started his own workshop, first at 53, Faubourg Poissonniere, then at 6, rue Clauzel. He is a clever maker and his instruments show experience and careful work.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Von 1872-1873 Schüler von Seb. Vuillaume und von 1873—1880 von
Miremont. Von 1880—1882 arbeitete er in seiner Wohnung für verschiedene
Meister, so für E. Germain etc. und eröffnete 1882 seine eigene Werkstatt
Faubourg Poissonnière 53, die er 1884 nach der Rue des Martyrs 29 und 1889
nach der Rue Clauzel 6 und 1893 nach der Rue de Navarin 21 und zuletzt in
derselben Strasse nach No. 19 verlegte. Er copirt alle grossen Meister und besitzt
auch ein von ihm selbst entworfenes Modell, bei welchem er die grösste Fülle und

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