Claude Darche

Worked in Brussels. Was a pupil of N. F. Vuillaume (a brother of the Parisian maker, who had settled in Brussels). He exhibited a very satisfactory quartet of new instruments at Münich in 1854, but was especially successful in a work of restoration that had taken him two years to accomplish. This was an Amati violoncello dated 1547, which had belonged to Charles IX. of France, and was handed over to Darche literally in fragments. In 1867 Darche's instruments were judged to be satisfactory in point of workmanship, but deficient in tone, and the varnish of poor quality. In 1854 he constructed a violin which was curved on each side of the button in such a way as to render it far less likely to slip from under the chin of the player.