Paris School
Jean (le jeune) Louvet
Paris, worked 1730–1778
Jean (le jeune) Louvet, son of Jean I. Louvet and brother of Pierre Louvet, was an instrument maker active in Paris from approximately 1730 to 1778. He was a sworn guild master by 1759 and worked from addresses including Rue de la Croix-des-Petits-Champs and Rue Grenier St.-Lazare, operating under the shop sign 'a la vielle royale'. While his violins were noted for their ordinary workmanship and brown varnish, he was particularly esteemed for his hurdy-gurdys, harps, and bagpipes, and was an early maker of pedal-harps. Examples of his hurdy-gurdys are preserved in the Paris Conservatoire Collection and the Royal Collection of Old Musical Instruments in Berlin.
Auction price history
Highest auction price
| Type | Details | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1746 | December 2008 | £2,271 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm | September 2007 | £612 |
| Violin | 1780-99 | November 1993 | £3,680 |
| Violin | 1755 | June 1991 | £4,840 |
Maker Overview
Life
Jean (le jeune) Louvet (circa 1730-1778) was the son of Jean I. Louvet and the brother of Pierre Louvet. He worked in Paris, France, from approximately 1730 to 1778, though Cecie Stainer suggests his working period was about 1730-1760. He was an esteemed lute maker (Lautenmacher) and by 1759, he had become a sworn guild master (geschworner Zunftmeister). Louvet consistently resided in the Rue de la Croix-des-Petits-Champs, and also worked from Rue Grenier St.-Lazare.
Characteristics
- Workmanship
- His violins were generally not considered well made, exhibiting coarse workmanship and ordinary construction (gewöhnlicher Arbeit).
- Varnish
- The varnish on his instruments was typically brown or dull yellow-brown.
- Arching
- His instruments featured a flat arch.
- Primary Instruments
- While he made violins and violas, he was particularly renowned for his hurdy-gurdys (Radleiern), harps, and bagpipes (Sackpfeifen). He was also among the first to produce pedal-harps.
- Branding and Labels
- Instruments were branded 'J. Louvet / A Paris'. Printed labels included 'Louvet à la Vielle / Royale, rue de la Croix des Petits / Champs, à coté de la porte / Saint-Honoré à Paris 1750' and 'Fait par Jean Louvet / à Paris. 1756'. An alto contained the label: 'Louvet a la Vielle Royale rue Croix-des-petits-Champs a cote de la Porte Saint-Honore a Paris, 1755'.
- Louvet à la Vielle
Royale, rue de la Croix des Petits
Champs, à coté de la porte
Saint-Honoré à Paris 1750John Dilworth - Fait par Jean Louvet
à Paris. 1756John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Family Tradition: Jean (le jeune) Louvet's craft was part of a family tradition, being the son of Jean I. Louvet and brother of Pierre Louvet.
- Shared Shop Sign: He shared the shop sign 'a la vielle royale' with his brother, Pierre, indicating a common workshop identity or heritage.
- Museum Collections: Two hurdy-gurdys made by Louvet are preserved in the Paris Conservatoire Collection, one dated 1733. Another hurdy-gurdy is held in the Royal Collection of Old Musical Instruments in Berlin (No. 1004). An alto from the Snoeck Collection (No. 572) is also attributed to him.
- Guild Master: His status as a sworn guild master (geschworner Zunftmeister) by 1759 highlights his recognized standing within the Parisian instrument-making community.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
LOUVET, Jean Worked circa. 1730-1778 Paris France. Known as Louvet le jeune. Flat arch with coarse workmanship and dull yellow-brown varnish. Branded: ‘J. Louvet / A Paris’. Printed labels: Louvet à la Vielle / Royale, rue de la Croix des Petits / Champs, à coté de la porte / Saint-Honoré à Paris 1750 Fait par Jean Louvet / à Paris. 1756
Cecie Stainer+
Brother of Pierre Louvet. He worked in Paris about 1730-60. His violins were not well made; they were varnished brown. He chiefly made hurdy-gurdys and harps, and was one of the first to make pedal-harps. In the Paris Conservatoire Collection are two hurdy-gurdys, one dated 1733, made by Louvet, rue Grenier St.-Lazare; the other with the label : ” Fait par Jean Louvet rue de la Croix-des-petits-Champs, pres la porte St.-Honore. Paris, 1750.” In an alto was the label: “Louvet a la Vielle Royale rue Croix-des-petits-Champs a cote de la Porte Saint-Honore a Paris, 1755 ” ; a similar label in a hurdy-gurdy was dated 1757.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Sohn von Jean I. L. und Bruder von Pierre; angesehener Lautenmacher,
der bereits 1759 geschworner Zunftmeister war. Er wohnte stets in der Rue
de la Croix-des-Petits-Champs und führte wie sein Bruder das Ladenschild: »a
la vielle royale«. Besonders geschätzt waren seine Radleiern, Sackpfeifen und
Harfen. Als Geigenmacher war er weniger bedeutend. Seine Violen und
Violinen sind meist von gewöhnlicher Arbeit und haben braunen Lack. Je eine
Radleier von ihm befindet sich im Pariser Conservatorium und in der kgl.
Sammlung alter Musikinstrumente in Berlin (No. 1004); ferner ein Alto aus der
Sammlung Snoeck (No. 572).
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.
Working in Paris at the same time
(Parisse) Claude Paris worked 1770–1814
(Perrault) Perault worked 1770–1790
(Prevot) Charles Prevost worked 1775–1789
Ambroise worked 1750–1810
Andrea Castagneri worked 1730–1762
Antoine Fouquet-Lecomte worked 1775–1800
Barbey worked 1720–1748
Benoist Flette worked 1755–1788