France School
Etienne Laprevotte
Marseille, Mirecourt, Paris, worked 1830
1837-1857 Paris France. Appointed luthier to the Duke of Bordeaux. Inconsistent quality; some rather meagre in wood and varnish, others with better materials and workmanship. Also made guitars. La Prevotte / dédié aux Dames / Luthier breveté, auteur / rue du Bac 38, Paris. / 1839 — John Dilworth
Auction price history
Highest auction price
| Type | Details | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | August 2013 | £1,875 | |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Mirecourt, 1920 c. | December 2009 | £2,160 |
| Violin | 1850 c. | June 1992 | £286 |
Maker Overview
Life
Etienne Laprevotte (d. 1856). Sources contain conflicting information regarding his working dates in Paris, with John Dilworth stating c.1837-1857, while Cecie Stainer indicates his death in 1856 in Paris. He was active in Marseille before 1823, and, was still there in 1821. From about 1823, he established his workshop in Paris. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes his residence at Rue du Bac 38 in 1838 and at Rue du Dragon 3 in 1844. He participated successfully in all French exhibitions from 1823 to 1855, as reported by Lütgendorff. George Hart and John Dilworth both mention his appointment as luthier to H.R.H. le Duc de Bordeaux.
Characteristics
- Instrument Production
- Etienne Laprevotte crafted both string instruments, including violins, and guitars.
- Violin Workmanship
- His violins were admired for their excellent workmanship and warm, beautifully colored varnish, which, almost gave the impression of Italian instruments. Cecie Stainer also noted their beautifully finished work and very good color varnish.
- Guitar Innovation
- He made guitars of his own invention and excellent workmanship. Lütgendorff states that only Lacôte surpassed him in this regard, while Stainer notes that he and Lacôte were considered two of the best French makers of this instrument.
- Quality Consistency
- John Dilworth observed inconsistent quality in his output, with some instruments being rather meagre in wood and varnish, while others featured better materials and workmanship. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also noted that numerous very mediocre instruments emerged from his workshop alongside the excellent ones.
- La Prevotte
dédié aux Dames
Luthier breveté, auteur
rue du Bac 38, Paris.
1839John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Exhibition Awards: Etienne Laprevotte received a "Mention" at the 1823 Exhibition and a bronze medal in 1827. For his guitars, he received another "Mention" in 1834 and a bronze medal in 1844.
- Museum Collections: A beautifully inlaid violin by him is part of the Paris Conservatoire Collection (No. 40). Additionally, two fine guitars by Laprevotte are also housed in the Paris Conservatoire Collection.
- Royal Appointment: He was appointed luthier to H.R.H. le Duc de Bordeaux.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
LAPREVOTTE, Etienne Worked circa. 1830 Marseilles, c.1837-1857 Paris France. Appointed luthier to the Duke of Bordeaux. Inconsistent quality; some rather meagre in wood and varnish, others with better materials and workmanship. Also made guitars. La Prevotte / dédié aux Dames / Luthier breveté, auteur / rue du Bac 38, Paris. / 1839
George Hart+
Maker to H.R.H. le Duc de Bordeaux.
Cecie Stainer+
b. Mirecourt; d. 1856, Paris. He worked first at Marseilles and was still there in 1821, but from about 1823 was established in Paris. His violins were admired for the beautifully finished work ; one is in the Paris Conservatoire Collection, its varnish is a very good colour; he received a ” Mention ” at the 1823 Exhibition, and a bronze medal in 1827.
Soon after he began to make guitars and gained a great reputation, he and Lacote being considered two of the best French makers of this instrument. Two fine guitars of his, with the label inside of ” Guitare Laprevotte, dediee aux dames,” are in the Paris Conservatoire Collection.
He received a ” Mention ” in 1834 and a bronze medal in 1844 for the guitars he exhibited.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Er war vor 1823 in Marseille ansässig . Dann ging er nach Paris und
wohnte 1838 Rue du Bac 38, im Jahre 1844 Rue du Dragon 3. Er betheiligte
sich mit Erfolg an allen französischen Ausstellungen von 1823—1855 und fertigte ausser einzelnen Streichinstrumenten, die vermöge ihrer trefflichen Arbeit und ihres warmen Lacks von schöner Farbe fast den Eindruck von Italienischen machten, auch Guitarren von eigener Erfindung und vorzüglicher Arbeit; nur Lacôte übertraf ihn hierin; im Übrigen gingen aus seiner Werkstatt auch zahlreiche sehr mittelmässige Instrumente hervor. Eine hübsch eingelegte Geige von ihm besitzt das Museum der Pariser Conservatoriums
(No. 40).
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Working in Marseille at the same time
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Alexandre Fontaine worked 1835–1860
Alexandre Paverot worked 1820
Alexis Gand b. 1797