Paul Blanchard (1852-1912) was born in Mirecourt began his apprenticeship with August Darte (1829-1892). Darte, in turn, had studied with Nicolas Vuillaume, who married Darte’s mother in 1839. Thus, Darte provided a direct lineage of traditions to Blanchard from Nicolas’ brother, Jean Baptiste Vuillaume. Blanchard then worked in Marseille, studying restoration with Edmond Daniel before joining the ranks of esteemed craftsmen honing their skills under Jean Baptiste Vuillaume. Effectively, coming full circle in the pedigree and lineage of his training.

In 1865, Blanchard entered the employ of H.C. Silvestre, with whom he would work until establishing an independent workshop in Lyon, 1876. There, he was appointed as official luthier to the Lyon Conservatory, as well as the city’s theatres and symphony, establishing a reputation as one of France’s finest and most prolific artisans. His collaborators further included Leon Mougenot, Emile Laurent, Paul Lorange, Justin Diter, Georges Cone, Charles Brugere, Georges Apparut, and Emile Boulangeot who inherited Blanchard’s shop.

Whereas Blanchard was heavily influenced by the etiquette of the Vuillaume shop and its business practices, his personal work showed more characteristics derived from Silvestre until 1885, after which his stylizations matured. So much so that he won the silver medal in competition at the 1889 Exposition Universelle, Paris, and subsequently took the Grand Prix in 1889 and a gold medal in 1900. Blanchard personally crafted about 1200 instruments and presided over many more at his workshop in Lyon including. Some of which were labeled, “marque deposee Lugdunum anno” and were generally dated. Emile Boulangeot continued the line into the 1920’s after taking the torch from Blanchard in 1912. This example bearing the trademark label is dated 1897 and also features several of Paul Blanchard’s brands to the interior. It presents in fine condition and offers a refined voice that immediately captures attention.