Amati > Makers Archive > B > Joseph Francois Breton

Mirecourt School

Joseph Francois Breton

Mirecourt, worked 1740–1799

Large Stradivari model, a little crude in execution, and generally second class materials used. Varnish of the ‘Vieux Paris’ type, thick and brown in colour, prone to craquelure. Branded on back: ‘Breton à Paris’. Label of violin in Berlin Museum: J. F. Breton, citharae-fa / bricator, fecit, vendit \u{2026} — John Dilworth

Worked Mirecourt
Made Violin

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£2,024

2 results

Type Details Auction house Sold Price
ViolinBearing the maker's brand, table cracks, many restorations Lot 566LaurentDecember 2024£1,600est. € 800-1.000
ViolinBearing the maker's brands to the back and button, fair condition Lot 361LaurentDecember 2024£2,024est. € 1.500-2.000

Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

BRETON, Joseph François Worked circa. 1740-1799 Mirecourt France. Large Stradivari model, a little crude in execution, and generally second class materials used. Varnish of the ‘Vieux Paris’ type, thick and brown in colour, prone to craquelure. Branded on back: ‘Breton à Paris’. Label of violin in Berlin Museum: J. F. Breton, citharae-fa / bricator, fecit, vendit et re- / concinat instrumenta musica / omnis generis Parisiis anno, / 1780 Sometimes signed on interior. Common label: Breton L’Huthier à Paris

Cecie Stainer+

Worked in Paris, 1740-80. His instruments are rather heavy in character, but are fairly well made, varnish a dark brown colour, ” Breton a Paris” is branded on their backs.
The same label, dated 1780, was found in a violin.

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