Here are some of the many violins sold by us during the last few years

Violin by John Betts, dated 1891.
A lovely violin from an early English maker. The hand written label is inscribed: Jo. Betts No. 2, near Northgate the Royal Exchange London, 1801
Paul Beuscher violin, dated 1933.
Paul Beuscher was a maker, but who also ran a violin shop in Paris, many of the instruments sold through his shop were labelled as his but often made for him by other makers.
A violin by Paul Bisch, dated 1944.
Paul Bisch was born 1893, he was a pupil of Mougenot and also worked for Caressa & Français in Paris. He won the Grand Prize at the exposition de L'Artisanat, Paris 1927. Paul Bisch was known for his rather odd varnish which he made himself.
H.Blaise workshop violin, circa 1920.
Good intermediate Mirecourt instruments made in the workshops of H.Blaise, produced from 1900 to 1930.
A violin from the Paul Blanchard workshops, dated 1902.

William Henley's Dictionary of Violin and Bow Makers states the following about the maker.

Paul Blanchard. Born Mirecourt 1851. Apprenticed to August Darte, 1865, who taught him the Vuillaume principles. Worked for Daniel at Marseilles, and for Silvestre at Lyons. Established own workshops 1870. Received medals at various French Exhibitions since 1889. Died 1912. A keenly interested worker, only satisfied with the best he could accomplish, and having all the requisite knowledge regarding the practical construction of an ever improving instrument. Many instruments were made by his assistants and were considered to be excellent violins within their class.
Violin by H. Emile Blondelet, dated 1925.
A violin of quality from a well known maker, the label carries acknowledgements of several Grand Prix awards including the 1922 Marseille.
An Emile Bonnel violin, circa 1895.
A good quality substantially built instrument with a powerful tone, probably a workshop instrument but nevertheless a good violin from a respected maker.
Violin labelled Andreas Borelli, circa 1920.
A violin of the Borelli school labelled Andreas Borelli, 1721. The patches of varnish wear on the back would have been done when the violin was first varnished to simulate an antique look in keeping with an 18th. century violin.
A violin labelled P.Borrel, dated 1937.

A good quality French instrument in near mint condition, deeply arched, in the style of Amati, finished in a warm nut brown/red varnish.
A fine quality violin by F. Breton,circa 1828.

William Henley's Dictionary of Violin and Bow Makers states the following about the maker.

BRETON, Francois. Born Mirecourt 1780. Worked at Mirecourt all his working life from 1803 to 1830, the year of his death. Violins of variable degrees of excellence in workmanship, some being splendidly finished. Generally of good outline with slight arching. Very neat purfling. Some scrolls look as if made by machinery (although they were always entirely hand made), Henley says the scrolls have no outstanding character. Tops often coarse grained and occasionally knotty, backs of usual nicely figured maple, sometimes apple wood. Light brownish-yellow varnish or yellow tinged with red, not unpleasant to the eye. Tone fairly broad.
J.T.L. Buthod violin, circa 1900.
The Jerome Thibouville-Lamy workshops acquired the Buthod brand around 1885, this subsequently became one of their top models along with the Barnabetti, they are very well made from good materials and with nicely carved scrolls and "F" holes.
A Fine quality violin by Collin-Mezin, dated 1932.

William Henley's Dictionary of Violin and Bow Makers states the following about the maker.

Ch.J.B.COLLIN-MEZIN. Born Mirecourt 1870. Son and collaborator to his father who bears the same names. Worked at Mirecourt from 1900 after some time spent working in America. Officier de L'Académie des Beaux-Arts, 1911. Won considerable success with the exceptional gifts of neat workmanship of violins, violas and cellos, imitive of his fathers style. Varnish somewhat Italian in appearance. Worked at Mirecourt 1925, but continued the use of Parisian labels. Supposed to have made violins in later years of more individualistic character.
An early 19th. century violin by Prospère Cabasse, circa 1830.
An early 19th. century violin. Prospère Cabasse worked in Mirecourt and Paris from 1782. They are quite hard to find, construction is lightly built with plain one piece backs and pretty sound holes, the instrument is branded inside CABASSE, and also has a hand written Strad. label. His instruments were finished in a warm yellow/brown varnish.
A Caressa & Français workshop violin, circa 1925.
Excellent instruments were produced by the Caressa & Français workshops. They are well made with good attention to the finer points such as scroll, sound holes and button.
Violin labelled C.Carletti, circa 1900.
An unusual violin with some character, carrying a Carolus Carletti label, I am not familiar with this makers work therefore I have described it as "labelled C.Carletti" however I do think that it is an Italian violin. It is also a Gaglianno copy which was a model often copied by Carletti.
A Carrodus violin, dated 1888.

A good quality Mirecourt violin made for Haynes and Co., London, 1887 to 1901. Named after the celebrated English violinist J.T.Carrodus.