Jean (le jeune) Louvet

History

Jean (le jeune) Louvet (circa 1730-1778) was the son of Jean I. Louvet and the brother of Pierre Louvet. He worked in Paris, France, from approximately 1730 to 1778, though Cecie Stainer suggests his working period was about 1730-1760. He was an esteemed lute maker (Lautenmacher) and by 1759, he had become a sworn guild master (geschworner Zunftmeister). Louvet consistently resided in the Rue de la Croix-des-Petits-Champs, and also worked from Rue Grenier St.-Lazare.

Craft

• Workmanship: His violins were generally not considered well made, exhibiting coarse workmanship and ordinary construction (gewöhnlicher Arbeit).
• Varnish: The varnish on his instruments was typically brown or dull yellow-brown.
• Arching: His instruments featured a flat arch.
• Primary Instruments: While he made violins and violas, he was particularly renowned for his hurdy-gurdys (Radleiern), harps, and bagpipes (Sackpfeifen). He was also among the first to produce pedal-harps.
• Branding and Labels: Instruments were branded 'J. Louvet / A Paris'. Printed labels included 'Louvet à la Vielle / Royale, rue de la Croix des Petits / Champs, à coté de la porte / Saint-Honoré à Paris 1750' and 'Fait par Jean Louvet / à Paris. 1756'. An alto contained the label: 'Louvet a la Vielle Royale rue Croix-des-petits-Champs a cote de la Porte Saint-Honore a Paris, 1755'.

Influence

• Family Tradition: Jean (le jeune) Louvet's craft was part of a family tradition, being the son of Jean I. Louvet and brother of Pierre Louvet.
• Shared Shop Sign: He shared the shop sign 'a la vielle royale' with his brother, Pierre, indicating a common workshop identity or heritage.

Legacy

• Museum Collections: Two hurdy-gurdys made by Louvet are preserved in the Paris Conservatoire Collection, one dated 1733. Another hurdy-gurdy is held in the Royal Collection of Old Musical Instruments in Berlin (No. 1004). An alto from the Snoeck Collection (No. 572) is also attributed to him.
• Guild Master: His status as a sworn guild master (geschworner Zunftmeister) by 1759 highlights his recognized standing within the Parisian instrument-making community.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: Jean (le jeune) Louvet worked from Rue Grenier St.-Lazare and consistently resided and worked in the Rue de la Croix-des-Petits-Champs, near the Porte St.-Honoré in Paris.
• Shop Sign: His workshop was identified by the sign 'a la vielle royale'.
• Label Examples: Specific labels found in his instruments include: 'Fait par Jean Louvet rue de la Croix-des-petits-Champs, pres la porte St.-Honore. Paris, 1750' and 'Louvet a la Vielle Royale rue Croix-des-petits-Champs a cote de la Porte Saint-Honore a Paris, 1755'. A similar label in a hurdy-gurdy was dated 1757.

Summary

Jean (le jeune) Louvet, son of Jean I. Louvet and brother of Pierre Louvet, was an instrument maker active in Paris from approximately 1730 to 1778. He was a sworn guild master by 1759 and worked from addresses including Rue de la Croix-des-Petits-Champs and Rue Grenier St.-Lazare, operating under the shop sign 'a la vielle royale'. While his violins were noted for their ordinary workmanship and brown varnish, he was particularly esteemed for his hurdy-gurdys, harps, and bagpipes, and was an early maker of pedal-harps. Examples of his hurdy-gurdys are preserved in the Paris Conservatoire Collection and the Royal Collection of Old Musical Instruments in Berlin.