Marc Laberte Violin – Mirecourt Vosges circa 1950’s – Fiddlin’ Gem!

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Label:

I found this French violin in Ottawa, Canada. It had been well played on by one owner who purchased it in Canada in the 1950’s. It is a Marc Laberte (1880–1963) Ateliers, Mirecourt. Marc was a trained violin maker by his already famous family and by 1911 Laberte played an active role in the company. Laberte himself became well known as an exceptional luthier and he was awarded several honors and medals not only for his consistently good quality instruments but also for his bows. By 1919 the Laberte firm had grown to 400 craftsmen and enjoyed great success making high quality instruments. By 1942 the ravages of World War II almost destroyed all of France and its people. It also dealt a huge blow to the violin shops in Mirecourt. The Laberte firm had all its tools and machinery taken away by the Nazi war machine which decimated the firm. By late 1944 the company tried to resume its activity, but production never reached the same levels as prior to the war and the eventually difficult economic climate in the post-war years dwindled the company down to less than dozen people.

Our violin was made in this post-war era and is in good condition. It has the original Marc Laberte label with the red border. A second label inside in the treble side reads; Model d’apres, Jean Baptiste Vuillaume a Paris 3 rue Demours – Ternes. The instrument is a Vuillaume model slightly wider Strad pattern with red/orange/brown spirit varnish on a golden ground. The varnish has some small playing wear areas and has developed some patina. The top plate is medium-width grain spruce, very consistent and straight. The back is two-piece maple that is highly flamed maple with matching ribs, neck, and scroll. We have completely gone over the entire violin giving it a new set up. The violin has two repaired wing splits all cleated and repaired. The fingerboard has a white dove carved in mother-of-pearl which helps set the violin apart. This violin will make a great instrument for fiddling. I believe the former player only did fiddling. We removed the old bridge with a very grimy older pick-up system from the 60’s and cut a new French bridge. The instrument has rosewood fittings and is very much ready for a new owner.

Corpus 357.0 mm., Major Width 209.0 mm., Minor Width 170.0 mm., Rib Height 30.0 mm.

The violin has a beefy sound, gutsy with a slight edge to the tone. It speaks well and can take being driven, laid into on both sides of the aisle (bass & treble). The sound is clean and is brighter on the E and A strings, which is great for the fiddle player. The instrument is full of life throughout the entire register. I get good vibes from stroking the instrument and I could heavily lay into it. The violin can handle a powerful right arm and it is easy to play. This violin is tons of fun to play, see if it speaks to you.