Nicolas Masson

Name: Nicolas Masson auction price records, Amati Instrument Archive
Creator: Amati

Thons, b. 1863

Nicolas Masson (1863-) was a self-taught French luthier who, alongside his brother Antoine Masson, established a prominent workshop in Paris in 1899. They were recognized for their fine craftsmanship, producing instruments modeled after Amati, Stradivari, and Stainer, as well as their own unique personal model developed through extensive scientific study and adherence to Cremonese principles. The Masson brothers were also highly regarded for their expertise in the repair and restoration of antique instruments.

Worked Thons

Made Violin

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£882

Type	Details	Auction house	Sold	Price
Violin	35.9 cm Paris, 1911	—	June 2007	£882

Maker Overview

Life

Nicolas Masson (1863-) was born in 1863 in Thons, Vosges, France. He was the brother and associate of Antoine Masson, and both were self-taught luthiers., the brothers founded a business at 44 rue de Ramey, Paris, in 1899. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff specifies that they went public with their workshop on July 1, 1899, after twelve years of scientific study and ten years of continuous experiments. They moved their workshop to 112 rue Ordener in 1902, and finally settled at 16 rue des Cloys in 1912.

Characteristics

Workmanship: The Masson brothers produced instruments with fine workmanship, often based on Amati, Stradivari, and Stainer models.
Personal Model: They also created a well-regulated personal model, which they developed "under consideration of physical and acoustic laws and observing the rules established by the Cremonese masters." They attributed this model with a more elegant form and easier playability, believing it better met modern requirements for tonal range.
Varnish: They prepared their own good golden-red varnish, treating its production as a secret.
Restoration: They were notable as repairers and restorers of all antique instruments.

Recorded labels

lot
fecerunt app. q. “l’Intelligence”
Anno D.N.J.C.
1900.
Paris 44 Rue Ramey 44.John Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Training: Nicolas Masson and his brother Antoine were self-taught luthiers.
Methodology: Their instrument making approach was guided by "physical and acoustic laws" and "rules established by the Cremonese masters."

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Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

MASSON, Nicolas Born 1863 Thons, Vosges France. Brother and associate of Antoine Masson, above. Self-taught. The brothers founded a business at 44 rue de Ramey, Paris in 1899. They moved to 112 rue Ordener 1902, and finally settled at 16 rue des Cloys 1912. Fine workmanship on Amati, Stradivari, and Stainer models. Also a well-regulated personal model, all with their own good golden-red varnish. Notable also as repairers and restorers of all antique instruments. S A SS. A E N Nicolaus et A. Masson fr. lot / fecerunt app. q. “l’Intelligence” / Anno D.N.J.C. / 1900. / Paris 44 Rue Ramey 44.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Zwei Brüder, die durch Selbststudium das Geigenmachen erlernten und sich
»unter Zugrundelegung der physikalischen und akustischen Gesetze und unter
Beobachtung der von den Cremoneser Meistern aufgestellten Regeln« ein eignes
Modell schufen. Nach zwölfjährigem wissenschaftlichem Studium und durch
zehn Jahre fortgesetzten Versuchen traten sie am 1. Juli 1899 in die Öffentlichkeit
und haben ihre Werkstatt für die Anfertigung von Violinen, Bratschen
und Violoncelli in der Rue Ramey 44 begründet. Sie copiren auf Wunsch die
Modelle von Amati, Stradivari und Stainer, bevorzugen jedoch ihr eigenes
Modell, dem sie elegantere Form und leichtere Spielbarkeit zuschreiben, da sie
mit demselben den modernen Anforderungen an den Tonumfang besser Rechnung
tragen zu können glauben. Ihren Lack, der schon goldroth ist, bereiten sie
selbst und behandeln die Herstellung als Geheimniss.