Hippolyte Chrétien Silvestre, Lyon 1879

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H.C. Silvestre (b.1845, d.1913) was the nephew of both Pierre and Hippolyte Silvestre. He was trained by them and eventually took over their shop in 1865. Pierre Silvestre had, in turn, worked for the two greatest masters of the French school, Lupot and Vuillaume. For 35 years, H.C. Silvestre successfully ran his shop which, in addition to making, dealt heavily in fine Cremonese violins. Among masterworks owned by Silvestre was the ‘Heifetz, Piel’ Stradivari, c. 1731.  Silvestre partnered with Ernst Maucotel in 1900, a partnership which lasted until Silvestre's death in 1913. His personal instruments typically feature beautifully figured maple, wide-grain spruce and a glowing and supple red or red/orange varnish. This instrument has a shining, powerful tone and belonged to an elite professional musician for many years.

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