18th Century Nicolas Desrousseaux - "DesRousseaux à Verdun"

Description

I purchased the Nicolas Desrousseaux violin out of France. It is really quite wonderful in aesthetics and in voice (my opinion). It plays easily. It is authentic, fire branded, and has a certificate. I am listing it to see of there is interest. I can keep it (easily) or sell it. I would consider reasonable offers. The violin has excellent provenance. His violins are scarce if even you can find another. It is a pleasure to play. It is a treasure.
This is a rare antique 18th Century French violin. It is 100% authentic made by Nicolas Desrousseaux in Verdun. The top is made of two parts of spruce, and shows irregulargrain lines. The back is made of two parts of faintly flamed maple. The ribsand head are of the same wood. The head is a prodigious example of the works produced by the wood carvers at that time, as the carving of the heads wasreserved to their corporation. The f holes are quite straight, which was a particularity of this maker. The violin is covered with a brown varnish. The violin has been prevously well repaired, with repairs on the top and head, and some worm works repaired on the back and ribs.The neck has been changed, button reset, and original head grafted.The violin has a wonderful set-up including anew set of pegs, a new tailpiece, a new chin rest, and Thomastik Dominant strings. The violin is in solid shape. It is ready to play. On the back, under the neck button can be found the original fire brand of the maker, "DesRousseaux à Verdun". The violin is guaranteed100% authentic.
Dimensions are the following :
Body length : 353 mm.
Upper bouts : 161 mm.
Middle bouts : 112 mm.
Lower bouts : 200 mm.
Nicolas DESROUSSEAUX was born March 8, 1716 at Vacherauville,small village in the Meuse, located about twenty kilometers from Verdun. Hisfather John DESROUSSEAUX are exercised laborer business. Like his brother John,he first worked as a stonemason. Around 1735 he returned to the studio ofJoseph MIRAUCOURT, luthier in Verdun and became thanks to the advice of thelatter a skilled luthier.
He married January 14, 1744 at Récicourt (Meuse ), JeanneMIRAUCOURT (1721-?) The daughter of his master, and he then opened a violin shop in Verdun:"At the Lute". They had six children, two survived: FrançoisDESROUSSEAUX born January 20, 1749 in Verdun will Watchmaker. From his marriageto Marguerite GENTY born 9 children including several allied with families ofmusicians, as did his last daughter Angélique DESROUSSEAUX (1785 -?) Whomarried Jean Charles BIRCKHANN (1740-1844), AlsatianSarre Union in Bas Rhin,bandmaster in the army and whose son was 4 military musicians.
On the death of Nicolas DEROUSSEAUX, August 12, 1783 inVerdun , it was his second son Jacques DESROUSSEAUX (1754-1818), who succeededhim as luthier installed Causeway Street in Verdun. He married July 15, 1788,Marguerite DIDIER, the daughter of a saddler of Verdun. Their children died ininfancy and the workshop disappear with the death of Jacques DESROUSSEAUX whichwill occur December 27, 1818 at Verdun.
There are still some gray areas on Nicolas DESROUSSEAUX: It seems that this maker was very early and very talented as shown (with the) quinton presented in this article (See http://facteursetmarchandsdemusique.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post.html) realized in 1733 (he was 17) and the violin museum ofmusic Paris 1738 (22 years). His "Master" is really JosephMIRAUCOURT? For the latter declares merchant and lives in a village Souilly (Meuse)until 1729 and lives in Verdun from 1735. One knows no instruments of thismaker, only a 1743 label, mentioned by Albert Jacquot in his book: "Theviolin Lorraine and French." However A. Jacquot, in this same bookdescribes a quinton owned signed Claude MIRAUCOURT, luthier in Verdun , dated1741, which could be the trainer of N. DESROUSSAULT.
I like this violin. In fact, I can easily keep it. It plays wonderfully (my opinion) and it is authentic and very rare. I would be willing to sell it. I would consider reasonable offers. I list it here only to see if there is interest.
I have a certificate of authenticity/value that comes with it. It is valued at significantly more. The certificate has photographs and is smartly embossed.
I have Pirastro Eudoxa gut strings on it...
Come play it!
Kindly,
Alan
Will only ship within USA.
P.S. I thought to add something about myself. What I sell music-wise are things I have acquired, but in my musical journey find no need for them anymore. I mostly sell at a loss... and really... that is fine as the journey is worth it! This is not a 'business' for me....
Lastly, I just don't sell junk...