Francois Feury

History

Francois Feury (c. 1718-1762) was a Parisian luthier active from approximately 1718 to 1762. He was a relative and pupil of Leclerc, whose daughter he married, making him Leclerc's son-in-law. Feury also worked for J. Ouvrard. According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, he was a sworn master of the Parisian lute makers' guild in both 1752 and 1757. His workshop locations included rue de l'Arbre-Sec and rue des Fosses, St-Germain-l'Auxerrois, near rue de l'Arbre-Sec, as noted in various sources including Cecie Stainer and John Dilworth.

Craft

• Pattern: His violins are generally described as being of a small pattern, specifically an Amatisé pattern, according to John Dilworth.
• Workmanship: Instruments are noted for being nicely proportioned, though Dilworth observes a somewhat coarse finish. Cecie Stainer, however, describes his work as good for the period, while Willibald Leo Lütgendorff mentions them as "hübsch gebaut" (prettily built).
• Varnish: A consistent characteristic is a substantial, thick red varnish, which Dilworth also describes as a little hard.
• Sound-holes and Scroll: Lütgendorff highlights beautifully cut small F-holes and a graceful scroll, a detail echoed by Stainer who notes small and well-cut sound-holes.
• Instrument Variety: Feury crafted a range of instruments beyond violins, including double basses, vielles, and various plucked instruments such as guitars and mandolins. Cecie Stainer also mentions that he devoted much of his time to making wind instruments.

Influence

• Mentorship: Francois Feury was a pupil and relative of Leclerc, later becoming his son-in-law.
• Collaborations: He also worked for J. Ouvrard, as noted by John Dilworth.

Legacy

• Collections: A guitar by Feury, converted into a hurdy-gurdy, is part of the Snoeck Collection (No. 600) in Berlin, as documented by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff.
• Notable Owners: A. Rogat is known to possess a bass crafted by Feury.

Further Information

• Branding: Instruments by Feury were sometimes branded with ‘F. Feury à Paris’.
• Labels and Addresses: Known labels include "F. Feury, rue de l’Arbre-Sec / vis-à-vis Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois / Paris. 1753" and "F. Feury, rue des Fosses / St. Germain-de-la-Auxerrois proche la rue de l’Arbre- / sec.à Paris 17.." as cited by John Dilworth. Cecie Stainer also references a label from "F. Feury, rue de Fosses, St-Germain-l'Auxerrois proche la rue de I'Arbre-sec a Paris, 17—."

Summary

Francois Feury was a Parisian luthier active from approximately 1718 to 1762, known for his work as a pupil and son-in-law of Leclerc and for J. Ouvrard. He achieved the status of a sworn master of the Parisian lute makers' guild in 1752 and 1757. Feury crafted violins on a small Amatisé pattern, characterized by nicely proportioned forms, small and well-cut F-holes, a graceful scroll, and a distinctive thick, red varnish. Beyond violins, he produced double basses, vielles, guitars, mandolins, and, according to some accounts, wind instruments. His instruments, including a guitar converted into a hurdy-gurdy, are found in notable collections such as the Snoeck Collection in Berlin.