France School
Emile Mennesson
Mirecourt, Paris, Reims, Rheims, 1842–1920
Emile Mennesson (1842-1920) was a prominent French luthier who transitioned from piano making to fully dedicating himself to violin making by 1874. After working in Paris and with Joseph Guarini in Mirecourt, he established his own successful workshop, producing over 3,000 instruments, many under the Guarini trademark. His instruments, often modelled after the 1716 Stradivari 'Messie' violin, were known for their red or yellow-red varnish and the use of fine old wood. Mennesson was highly acclaimed, earning 19 diplomas and medals, including the Decoration of the Royal Order of Christ of Portugal, and exhibiting his work internationally.
Auction price history
Highest auction price
66 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 132, minor table crack Lot 203 | Laurent | December 2024 | £7,249est. € 3.000-4.000 |
| Violin | Lot 162 | Bonhams | May 2015 | £2,250 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Reims, 1876 n°484 | — | December 2011 | £5,495 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Reims, 1877 n°578 | — | June 2011 | £2,755 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Reims, 1885 n°1708 | — | June 2011 | £4,188 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Reims, 1895 n°2775 | — | June 2011 | £3,306 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Reims, 1877 n°864 Worskhop of | — | June 2011 | £1,433 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Reims, 1886 | — | May 2011 | £8,740 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Reims, 1879 n°10553 (soundpost crack) | — | December 2010 | £1,657 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm France, 1878 | — | December 2010 | £1,080 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Reims, 1893 (soundpost crack) Workshop of | — | December 2010 | £1,036 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Reims, 1875 n°694 Workshop of | — | June 2010 | £3,935 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm Reims, 1880 | — | April 2010 | £6,164 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Reims, 1885 near mint condition | — | March 2010 | £3,360 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Reims, 1880 c. | — | December 2009 | £2,285 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm | — | December 2009 | £2,176 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, late 19th C. sold by "Emile Menesson" | — | June 2009 | £363 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Mirecourt, 1890 c. Workshop of | — | March 2009 | £1,755 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Reims, 1899 #2538 | — | December 2008 | £4,095 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Reims en 1878 (breaks on table) Workshop of | — | December 2008 | £1,536 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Reims, 1889 n°2163 | — | December 2008 | £4,300 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Reims, 1880 c. | — | June 2008 | £2,878 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Reims, 1890 c. (restored soundpost crack) | — | June 2008 | £2,600 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Reims, 1887 (restored head & sound post crack)) | — | December 2007 | £2,723 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Reims, 1875 | — | October 2007 | £2,285 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Rheims, 1880 c. | — | June 2007 | £1,443 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1886 | — | May 2007 | £3,168 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Reims, 1878, n°1460 (restored soundpost crack) | — | December 2006 | £3,995 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Reims, 1881, n°1553 | — | June 2006 | £2,428 |
| Violin | 33.7 cm 3/4 Size Workshop of | — | February 2006 | £1,060 |
| Violin | Rheims, 1876 #306 | — | December 2005 | £878 |
| Violin | Reims, 1886 | — | November 2005 | £2,160 |
| Violin | Reims, 1893 #2605 | — | November 2005 | £1,737 |
| Violin | Reims, 1888 #1950 | — | December 2004 | £1,140 |
| Violin | 1898 | — | June 2004 | £1,346 |
| Violin | Probably by | — | May 2004 | £3,056 |
| Violin | 1874 | — | December 2003 | £2,391 |
| Violin | 1877 | — | December 2003 | £2,309 |
| Violin | 1903 | — | June 2003 | £3,000 |
| Violin | 1879 | — | June 2003 | £2,500 |
| Violin | 1888 | — | May 2003 | £3,680 |
| Cello | 1877 | — | June 2001 | £8,400 |
| Violin | 1898 | — | June 2001 | £2,723 |
| Violin | 1877 | — | May 2001 | £2,300 |
| Violin | 1878 | — | November 2000 | £2,640 |
| Violin | 1888 | — | June 2000 | £1,958 |
| Violin | 1887 | — | May 1998 | £1,265 |
| Violin | 1887 | — | July 1997 | £1,610 |
| Violin | 1884 | — | March 1997 | £2,530 |
| Violin | 1877 | — | March 1997 | £1,840 |
| Violin | 1878 | — | March 1997 | £1,208 |
| Violin | 1886 | — | March 1996 | £2,990 |
| Violin | 1878 | — | June 1995 | £3,105 |
| Violin | 1878 | — | March 1995 | £2,990 |
| Violin | 1883 | — | October 1994 | £1,725 |
| Violin | 1884 | — | March 1994 | £3,450 |
| Violin | 1876 | — | March 1994 | £1,760 |
| Violin | 1876 | — | November 1993 | £2,185 |
| Violin | 1870 | — | June 1993 | £1,320 |
| Violin | 1889 | — | November 1992 | £3,960 |
| Violin | 1878 | — | November 1992 | £2,804 |
| Violin | 1904 | — | July 1992 | £1,870 |
| Violin | 1870 | — | July 1989 | £396 |
| Violin Bow | S/E | — | May 1989 | £132 |
| Cello | 1886 | — | March 1988 | £4,400 |
| Cello | 1886 | — | March 1986 | £2,808 |
No results match those filters.
Maker Overview
Life
Emile Mennesson (1842-1920) was born on March 15, 1842, in Rheims, France, where he later died in 1920. He began his career in 1865 as a piano maker and music dealer, but his inclination and talent increasingly drew him towards violin making, a craft he fully dedicated himself to from 1874. Mennesson worked in Paris before being employed by Martin and Joseph Guarini in Mirecourt. Between 1876 and 1881, he established his own extensive workshop in Mirecourt, subsequently taking over the Guarini business and utilizing the name as a professional trademark for his high-quality commercial instruments. He was highly successful, producing over 3,000 violins, violas, and cellos under the Guarini label. His firm later became known as Emile Mennesson & Fils, successeurs, and his shop sign was 'à Ste Cécile'.
Characteristics
- Models
- Instruments were mostly modelled on Stradivari forms, with violins specifically based on the 1716 Stradivari 'Messie' violin.
- Varnish
- His instruments featured red or yellow-red varnish. Cecie Stainer notes that the varnish was initially red, later transitioning to yellow-red with an amber ground.
- Materials
- Mennesson utilized beautiful old wood in his constructions.
- Workmanship
- He applied particular care to the varnishing process, incorporating the results of chemical experiments by Gery.
- Inventions
- Mennesson is credited as the inventor of the 'Molliphone'.
- Labels
- Examples of his labels include "E. M. Joseph Guarini fecit (A) / Anno 1881. No. 1565 / Emile Mennesson, à Reims (Marne)/ Seul concessionare pour la France et l’étranger / Déposé" and "Emile Mennesson dit Guarini / E.M. Luthier à Ste. Cécile à Reims / 2 Médailles d’or Décoration de l’Ordre Royal / du Christ de Portugal / Année 1886 No. 1903".
- E. M. Joseph Guarini fecit (A)
Anno 1881John Dilworth - No. 1565
Emile Mennesson, à Reims (Marne)
Seul concessionare pour la France et l’étranger
Déposé Emile Mennesson dit Guarini
E.M. Luthier à Ste. Cécile à Reims
2 Médailles d’or Décoration de l’Ordre Royal
du Christ de Portugal
Année 1886John Dilworth - No. 1903John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Training: Emile Mennesson received training and worked with both Mennegand and Deroux.
- Awards and Recognition: Mennesson was highly decorated, receiving medals and citations at various exhibitions. He accumulated 19 diplomas and medals, including gold and silver medals and numerous 'diplomes d'honneur'. He was also awarded the Decoration of the Royal Order of Christ of Portugal.
- Exhibitions: His work was exhibited at significant events in Paris (1875, 1878, 1894), Philadelphia (1876), Rheims (1876, 1889, 1895), Rome (1884), Epernay (1884), and Charleville (1894).
- Publications: In 1876, L. S. Fanart published a detailed report on Mennesson, which was presented at the National Academy in Reims.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
MENNESSON, Emile Born 1842, died 1920 Rheims France. Worked in Paris before employment with Martin and Joseph Guarini in Mirecourt where he later established his own extensive workshop 1876-1881, taking over the business of Guarini and using the name as a professional trade mark in good quality commercial instruments. Highly successful. Over 3,000 violins, violas, and cellos made with the Guarini label. Mostly modelled on Stradivari forms, the violins based on the 1716 Stradivari ‘Messie’ violin. Red or yellow-red varnish. Awarded medals and citations at various exhibitions. E. M. Joseph Guarini fecit (A) / Anno 1881. No. 1565 / Emile Mennesson, à Reims (Marne)/ Seul concessionare pour la France et l’étranger / Déposé Emile Mennesson dit Guarini / E.M. Luthier à Ste. Cécile à Reims / 2 Médailles d’or Décoration de l’Ordre Royal / du Christ de Portugal / Année 1886 No. 1903
Cecie Stainer+
b. March 15, 1842, Rheims. Lives there at 10, rue Carnot. Worked with Mennegand and Deroux. Had large workshop at Mirecourt, 1876-81.
Has made 2,380 violins, following the pattern of Stradivari’s “Messiah” violin; varnish, first red, later yellow-red with amber ground. Exhibited at Paris (1875-78-94), Philadelphia (1876), Rheims (1876-89-95), Rome (1884), Epernay (1884 , Charleville (1894), and was awarded gold and silver medals and numerous ” diplomes d’honneur.”
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Einer der besseren französischen Geigenmacher der Gegenwart. Im Jahre 1865
begann er als Klaviermacher und Musikalienhändler, seine Neigung und sein Talent
führten ihn aber mehr und mehr zum Geigenmachen, dem er sich seit 1874 vollständig
widmete. Er arbeitete bei Mennegand und Deroux und dann von 1876
bis 1880 in Mirecourt und hat zahlreiche Copien nach der Messias-Geige
Stradivari’s angefertigt. Er verarbeitet schönes altes Holz und verwendet besondere
Sorgfalt auf die Lackierung, wobei er die Ergebnisse der chemischen
Versuche Gery’s sich zu Nutze macht. Er ist der Erfinder der »Molliphone«
etc. und besitzt 19 Diplome und Medaillen. L. S. Fanart veröffentlichte ein in
der National-Akademie zu Reims 1876 verlesenes ausführliches Gutachten über
Mennesson. — Er führt das Ladenschild »à Ste Cécile«. Die Firma lautet jetzt
Emile Mennesson & Fils, successeurs.
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.
Family
Jean Mennesson Son
Working in Mirecourt at the same time
(fils) Acoulon worked 1913–1930
(Pingrier) Frederic Pingrie worked 1895
A. Blondelet worked 1850–1865
A. Morhange worked 1919
Adolphe Dupary 1870–1940
Aimable Antoine Thouvenel 1815–1890
Albert Cunin 1865–1890