Paul Francois Blanchard

Grandson of François Blanchard, a maker of guitars ; b. Feb. 10, 1851, Mirecourt (Vosges); apprenticed there (1865) to Auguste Darte (pupil of J. B. Vuillaume and successor to Nicolas Vuillaume) 1868, worked a few months at Marseilles with Daniel, and in October, 1869, settled at Lyons, working under Silvestre neveu, until he started his own business, 45, rue Ferrandieri, in 1876, which he moved, 1890, to 77, rue de la Republique. Two workmen are employed, one for repairs, the other for new instruments Blanchard himself repairs old instruments and makes all the new violins, which have his label: "Fait par Paul Blanchard a Lyon en 18—, No. —," priced at £12 each. Up till now he has made 379 instruments (all numbered), he makes from 25 to 30 a year; about the same number made by his workmen are sold at half the price of his own and are labelled : " Fait dans l'atelier de P. Blanchard, Lyon, 18—." Instruments made by his pupils are sold at £3 or £4 each, and have a label representing the Lyons city arms inscribed, " Lugdunum, anno 18—." Blanchard generally follows the Stradivari and G. Guarneri patterns, but does not attempt to artificially age his violins; the tone shows great equality on all the strings, is powerful and clear, the oil varnish, very transparent, is a golden red colour for his own instruments, a lighter colour for those made in his shop. He first exhibited at Paris, 1889, and gained a silver medal; was awarded the " Grand Prix " at the Lyons Exhibition in 1894;” appointed " Luthier du conservatoire national, de l'orchestre et des theatres municipaux."