Georges Mougenot

Name: Georges Mougenot auction price records, Amati Instrument Archive
Creator: Amati

Brussels, Mirecourt, Paris, 1843–1937

Apprenticed to G. Deroux from 1855. Worked in Liège in 1858 with his uncle Victor Jeandel, and then for N. Darche in Aix-la-Chapelle. Returned to Liège and succeeded to the business of Jeandel in 1860, at that time at 48 rue Souverain Pont. Moved to Pont d’Ile and in 1875 took over the shop of Nicol\u{2026} — John Dilworth

Worked Brussels, Mirecourt, Paris

Made Cello, Viola, Violin, Violin Bow

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£15,600

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Violin	35.6 cm Brussels, 1890	December 2011	£660
Violin	35.8 cm Brussels, 1882	October 2011	£5,625
Violin	35.9 cm Bruxelles, 1905 c. [Workshop of]	June 2010	£2,382
Violin	35.9 cm Brussels, 1898	March 2010	£3,600
Violin	35.8 cm Brussels, 1889	March 2009	£2,400
Violin	35.7 cm Brussels, 1890	May 2008	£7,184
Violin	35.8 cm Paris, 1925	March 2008	£2,457
Violin	35.8 cm Brussels, 1890 c. after "Guarneri"	March 2008	£3,500
Violin	35.9 cm Brussels, 1892 "Guarnerius del Gesu" model	December 2006	£3,595
Violin	Brussels, 1891	November 2005	£2,211
Violin	Brussels, 1894	October 2005	£2,293
Cello	Brussels, 1898	November 2004	£15,600
Violin	1826	November 2003	£3,408
Violin	1934	October 2002	£1,378
Violin	1894	March 2001	£5,400
Viola	39.6 cm 1894	July 2000	£2,880
Violin	1898	June 2000	£1,306
Violin	1909	June 2000	£4,370
Violin	1916	March 2000	£5,175
Violin	1920 c.	October 1998	£1,380
Violin	1892	June 1998	£2,875
Violin	1880	March 1997	£5,980
Violin	1915	November 1992	£1,870
Violin	1909	November 1991	£1,430
Violin Bow	S/E 56 g.	June 1990	£550
Violin	1882	November 1989	£1,980
Violin	1898	August 1985	£770
Violin	1884	September 1983	£1,320
Cello	1870	October 1982	£4,853
Violin	1899	September 1982	£660

Maker Overview

Life

Georges Mougenot (1843-1937) was born on June 23, 1843, in Mirecourt, Vosges, and passed away in 1937 in Boitsfort, France. He began his apprenticeship with G. Deroux in Mirecourt from 1855. In 1858, Mougenot worked in Liège with his uncle, Victor Jeandel, before moving to Aix-la-Chapelle to work for N. Darche, where he served as head workman from 1864 to 1867. He returned to Liège and, succeeded to Jeandel's business in 1860, then located at 48 rue Souverain Pont. However, Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states that Mougenot established himself independently in Liège in 1868. He later moved his Liège workshop to Pont d'Ile. In 1875, Mougenot took over the business of Nicolas Vuillaume in Brussels, initially located in the rue Eperonniers, then transferred it to rue St-Jean, and later to Montagne de la Cour. He was appointed luthier to the Brussels Conservatoire. Georges Mougenot retired in 1910, leaving his workshop and business to Maurice Bourguignon.

Characteristics

Workmanship: Georges Mougenot produced superb work, often based on classical Cremonese models, including those of Stradivari and Guarneri.
Models: He also created copies of the 'De Bériot' Maggini violin, noted for their appropriate varnish shades and first-class materials.
Varnish: For his Stradivari patterns, he used a brown-red varnish, and for Guarneri patterns, a golden-red varnish, both contributing to a good tone.
Production: He employed two workmen to construct new violins and violoncellos, with Mougenot himself always completing the instruments, determining thicknesses, and applying the varnish.
Decoration: Occasional examples of his work were painted and decorated.
Markings: Instruments were often branded internally.
Labels: Examples of his printed labels include "G.M. / Georges Mougenot, luthier du / Conservatoire Royal, Bruxelles 1899" and "Georges Mougenot / Bruxelles 1898 Copie du Roi Joseph par / Georges Mougenot luthier du / Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles 1900."
Assistant's Labels: Instruments made by assistants in his workshops were labeled "G.M. / Rue Saint Jean 47 Bruxelles / Made in Belgium."

Recorded labels

G.M.
Georges Mougenot, luthier du
Conservatoire Royal, Bruxelles 1899John Dilworth
Georges Mougenot
Bruxelles 1898John Dilworth
Copie du Roi Joseph par
Georges Mougenot luthier du
Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles 1900John Dilworth
Instruments made by assistants in his workshops labelled: G.M.
Rue Saint Jean 47 Bruxelles
Made in BelgiumJohn Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Apprenticeship: Georges Mougenot was apprenticed to G. Deroux (also referred to as Deroux père) in Mirecourt.
Mentorship: He worked under N. Darche in Aix-la-Chapelle, serving as his head workman from 1864 to 1867.
Family Connection: He worked with his uncle, Victor Jeandel, in Liège in 1858 and later succeeded to Jeandel's business.
Appointments: Georges Mougenot was appointed luthier to the Brussels Conservatoire.
Awards: He received a silver medal at Paris in 1878, gold medals at Amsterdam in 1883 and Antwerp in 1885, and a diploma of honour at Antwerp in 1894.
Succession: Upon his retirement in 1910, Maurice Bourguignon took over his workshop and business.

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Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

Georges Born 1843 Mirecourt, died 1937 Boitsfort France. Apprenticed to G. Deroux from 1855. Worked in Liège in 1858 with his uncle Victor Jeandel, and then for N. Darche in Aix-la-Chapelle. Returned to Liège and succeeded to the business of Jeandel in 1860, at that time at 48 rue Souverain Pont. Moved to Pont d’Ile and in 1875 took over the shop of Nicolas Vuillaume in the rue Eperonniers, Brussels. This he transferred to rue St-Jean and later to Montagne de la Cour. Appointed luthier to the Brussels Conservatoire. Retired in 1910 leaving the workshop and business to Maurice Bourguignon. Superb work on classical Cremonese models. Also some copies of the ‘De Bériot’ Maggini violin, with varnish of appropriate shades and first-class materials. Occasional painted and decorated examples. Gold medals awarded at Paris, 1878, Amsterdam, 1883, and Antwerp, 1885 and 1894. Often branded internally. Printed labels: G.M. / Georges Mougenot, luthier du / Conservatoire Royal, Bruxelles 1899 Georges Mougenot / Bruxelles 1898 Copie du Roi Joseph par / Georges Mougenot luthier du / Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles 1900 Instruments made by assistants in his workshops labelled: G.M. / Rue Saint Jean 47 Bruxelles / Made in Belgium.

Cecie Stainer+

b. June 23, 1843, Mirecourt (Vosges). Was apprenticed there to Deroux (pere), then worked under N. Darche at Aix-la-Chapelle; was his head workman, 1864-67. He established himself in Liege, in the rue Pont d’Ile ; but 1875 succeeded to the business of N. F. Vuillaume, for whom he had long been working, in Brussels, at 23, rue Montague de la Cour.
He employs two workmen to make new violins and violoncellos, he himself always finishing them, determining the thicknesses, doing the varnishing. &c. He follows the Stradivari and Guarneri patterns, using brown-red varnish for the former and golden-red for the latter; the tone is good.
Was awarded silver medal, Paris, 1878; gold medal, Amsterdam, 1883; gold medal, Antwerp, 1885 ; diploma of honour, Antwerp, 1894.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Schüler von Deroux père, ging zu N. Darche nach Aachen und machte sich
1868 in Lüttich selbstständig; im Jahre 1875 übernahm er N. F. Vuillaume’s
Werkstatt in Brüssel und wird wegen seiner guten Arbeiten sehr geschätzt.
Er arbeitet nach Stradivari und Guarneri und verwendet braunrothen und goldrothen

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