Claude-Augustin Miremont

Name: Claude-Augustin Miremont auction price records, Amati Instrument Archive
Creator: Amati

Mirecourt, New York, Paris, 1827–1887

Claude-Augustin Miremont (1827-1887) was a distinguished French violin and bow maker, trained by his father Sébastien Miremont and C. L. Collin. After working in Paris for Lafleur and Bernardel, he established a workshop in New York in 1852 before returning to Paris in 1861. He was renowned for his fine craftsmanship, producing instruments, particularly violoncellos, that copied patterns from masters like Stradivari and Guarneri, often finished with a light orange varnish. Miremont received multiple awards at international exhibitions in New York, Paris, and London, solidifying his reputation as one of the best Parisian makers of the 19th century.

Worked Mirecourt, New York, Paris

Made Cello, Viola, Violin

Taught by Sébastien Miremont

Family Son of Sébastien Miremont

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£21,250

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Violin	Labelled C. A. Miremont, New York, Broadway, 542 Année 1859, signed to the label	November 2024	£11,311
Violin	35.7 cm Paris, 1884	October 2011	£21,250
Violin	35.5 cm Paris, 1865	April 2010	£5,754
Violin	35.6 cm Paris, 1865	December 2009	£4,560
Violin	35.7 cm Paris, 1870-1875 c.	December 2009	£8,705
Violin	35.7 cm Paris, 1874	October 2009	£11,985
Violin	35.7 cm Paris, 1875 c.	June 2009	£9,334
Violin	35.7 cm Paris, 1873 [Workshop of]	October 2008	£7,954
Violin	35.6 cm Paris, 1882 c.	March 2008	£6,435
Violin	35.7 cm Paris, 1867 c.	March 2008	£9,360
Violin	36.0 cm Paris, 1862	December 2007	£7,658
Cello	76.1 cm Paris, 1869	May 2007	£14,729
Violin	35.6 cm Paris, 1880 c. After Guarneri	February 2007	£9,600
Violin	35.9 cm Paris, 1886	November 2006	£5,040
Violin	35.8 cm Paris, 1872	November 2006	£14,400
Violin	Paris, 1864	November 2005	£9,474
Violin	Paris, 1880 c.	December 2004	£7,488
Violin	Paris, 1880	July 2004	£3,840
Violin	1872	July 2000	£4,800
Violin	1866	May 2000	£4,960
Violin	1874	November 1999	£9,227
Violin	1878	November 1998	£2,875
Violin	1874	November 1998	£7,475
Violin	1879	November 1997	£4,830
Violin	1876	June 1993	£4,600
Violin	1876	October 1991	£2,640
Violin	1882	April 1987	£5,060
Violin	1881	May 1986	£756
Violin	1850 c.	March 1984	£1,980
Viola	40.0 cm 1881	November 1980	£990

Maker Overview

Life

Claude-Augustin Miremont (1827-1887) was born in Mirecourt, France, in 1827. He moved to Paris in 1844, where he initially worked for various establishments. In 1852, he emigrated to the United States, establishing himself as a violin maker in New York. He returned to Paris in 1861 and opened his own workshop on the Rue du Faubourg-Poissonnière. Claude-Augustin Miremont retired from business on July 15, 1884, first moving to Belleville and subsequently to Pontorson, where he passed away in 1887.

Characteristics

Models: Claude-Augustin Miremont produced instruments copying the patterns of Stradivari, Guarneri, Gagliano, and Klotz.
Workmanship: His instruments are noted for their typically fine French workmanship and finish, made with extreme accuracy by himself alone, without assistance from other workmen.
Varnish: He commonly used an orange varnish of light consistency, described as 'orangeroth'.
Instruments: He made several excellent violins and was particularly successful with violoncellos, which featured spirited outlines and F-holes. His instruments are known for their excellent quality of tone.
Bows: Miremont was also an excellent bow maker, and his bows were branded 'MIREMONT'.
Experimentation: His attempts to enhance the tone of instruments by inserting a second soundpost were ultimately unsuccessful.
Labels: His printed labels included text such as 'Expositions universelles de 1853-55-62-67 / Quatre premiers prix. / C. A. Miremont, Breveté S.G.D.G. / A. M. Paris, an 1875 A. Miremont' and 'C. A. Miremont fecit / Parisiis, Anno Dni 1881', as well as 'C. A. Miremont fecit Parisiis, anno Dni. 1882.'

Recorded labels

Expositions universelles de 1853-55-62-67 / Quatre premiers prix. / C. A. Miremont, Breveté S.G.D.G. / A. M. Paris, an 1875John Dilworth
A. Miremont C. A. Miremont fecit / Parisiis, Anno Dni 1881John Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Training: Claude-Augustin Miremont was the son and pupil of Sébastien Miremont. He also received training from C. L. Collin, also known as C. N. Collin Mezin, for three years.
Employment: In Paris, he worked for Lafleur and then for Bernardel until 1852.
Awards: He received numerous awards at various exhibitions, including a first-class medal in New York in 1853, a medal in Paris in 1855, a prize medal in London in 1862, and silver medals in 1867 and 1878.
Market Value: By the time of Willibald Leo Lütgendorff's writing, his violins were already valued at 600 Marks.

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Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

MIREMONT, Claude-Augustin Born 1827 Mirecourt, died 1887 Pontorson, France. Violin and bow maker. Son and pupil of Sébastien Miremont, below. Worked for C. L. Collin in Mirecourt, and Lafleur and Bernardel in Paris. Moved to the USA 1852. Established in New York. Returned to Paris 1861. Retired 1884 to Belleville and subsequently Pontorson. Awards at Paris, London, and New York Exhibitions. Stradivari, Guarneri, and Gagliano models of typically fine French workmanship and finish. Orange varnish of light consistency. Bows branded: MIREMONT. Printed label: Expositions universelles de 1853-55-62-67 / Quatre premiers prix. / C. A. Miremont, Breveté S.G.D.G. / A. M. Paris, an 1875 A. Miremont C. A. Miremont fecit / Parisiis, Anno Dni 1881

George Hart+

Born at Mirecourt in 1827, removed to Paris in 1844. Miremont has made several excellent Violins, copies of Stradivari and Guarneri.

Cecie Stainer+

Son of Sebastien Miremont; b. 1827, Mirecourt ; d. 1887, Pontorson (Manche). Was first a pupil of his father, then for three years of Collin-Mezin. In 1844 he went to Paris, and worked first with Lafleur, then with Bernardel until 1852, when he left France for America, and settled in New York.
In 1861 he returned to Paris and established himself in rue Faubourg-Poissonniere.
He retired from business on July 15, 1884, and went to live first in Belleville, then at Pontorson, where he died.
He made a great many instruments, chiefly violoncellos ; they were all made with extreme accuracy by himself alone, no workman assisting ; they show good work and have excellent quality of tone. He made some excellent copies of Stradivari and Guarneri, and also several instruments of excellent tone on the Klotz pattern.
Awards at Exhibitions : medal of first class, New York, 1853, and Paris, 1855; prize medal, London, 1862 ; and silver medal in 1867 and 1878.
Labels : ” Expositions universelles de 1853-55-62-67, quatre premiers prix. C. A. Miremont, Brevete S.G.D.G. Paris, an 1875. (Signed) A. Miremont,”
and ” C. A. Miremont fecit Parisiis, anno Dni. 1882.”

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Schüler seines Vaters Sebastian M. und von C. N. Collin Mezin; kam 1844
nach Paris, wo er zunächst an verschiedenen Stellen als Gehilfe arbeitete. Er
wanderte 1852 nach Amerika aus und liess sich in New-York als Geigenmacher
nieder, kehrte aber 1861 wieder nach Paris zurück und eröffnete seine Werkstatt
in der Rue du Faubourg-Poissonnière. Er copirte trefflich Jos. Guarnerius,
Stradivari, Gagliano und Klotz und gehört zu den besten Parisern des 19. Jahrhunderts, Geigen von ihm werden schon jetzt mit 600 M. bezahlt. Seine Versuche,
den Ton der Instrumente durch Einsetzen eines zweiten Stimmstocks zu
erhöhen, müssen jedoch als missglückt bezeichnet werden. Er erhielt eine ganze
Reihe von Medaillen etc. Er ist auch ein trefflicher Bogenmacher gewesen.
Im Jahre 1884 zog er sich vom Geschäft zurück und liess sich in Belleville
und dann in Pontorson nieder. Am besten glückten ihm Violoncelli; an diesen
waren die Umrisslinien und die F-Löcher besonders schwungvoll. Sein Lack
war gewöhnlich orangeroth.