Auguste Tolbecque

TOLBECQUE, Auguste Born 1830 Paris, died 1919 Niort France. Son of the violinist Auguste Joseph Tolbecque. Trained as a cellist in the Paris Conservatoire and became a successful soloist and teacher. Settled in Niort from 1858. Studied violin making with Rambaux in Paris c.1872. Instrument collector and author of L’art du Luthier (Niort, 1903), Notice Historique sur les Instruments à Cordes et à Archet (Paris, 1898), and Quelques considérations sur la Luthérie (Paris, 1890). Made several reproductions of old instruments and gained considerable reputation as a restorer. Also an organist and organ builder. His private collection of instruments was purchased by the Musical Instruments Museum, Brussels in 1879. Ate Tolbecque fils fecit / Paris anno 1859

Son of Auguste Joseph Tolbecque; was born March 30, 1830, Paris. He was a distinguished violoncellist, but also worked at violin making under Rambaux, in Paris. He made a small number of new instruments, and was extremely clever at restoring old ones; he collected some fine instruments, which he sold to the Brussels Conservatoire in 1879. In 1858 he settled in Niort, Deux-Sevres. Label: “Ate. Tolbecque fils fecit Parigi, anno 1851.”

Sohn des Hofballmusikdirectors Isidor Tolbecque, ein trefflicher Violoncellist, der als solcher 1849 den ersten Preis des Conservatoriums in Paris erhielt. Von besonderer Neigung getrieben, verlegte er sich auf das Geigenmachen, lernte bei Rambaux, hat eine Anzahl trefflicher Copien nach alten Meistern gemacht und sich auch als Reparateur grosse Geschicklichkeit erworben. Im Jahre 1858 liess er sich in Niort, Deux Sèvres, nieder, wo er sich auch mit Erfolg als Orgelbauer versuchte. Seine werthvolle Sammlung alter Musikinstrumente kaufte 1879 das Brüsseler Conservatorium. Seine Zettel zeigen ein merkwürdiges Sprachengemisch:

Distinguished artist ‘cellist who learnt instrument making with Rambeaux. He has made good copies of the old masters. Author of three authoritative books.