Joseph Laurent Mast
Mirecourt, Toulouse, b. 1779
Joseph Laurent Mast (1779-after 1830) was a French luthier born in Mirecourt, the son and pupil of Jean Laurent Mast, and an apprentice to Didier Nicolas. He established his independent workshop in Toulouse around 1800, located in the rue des Balances. His work is noted for being more classically graceful and of better workmanship than his father's, though still recognizably Mirecourtian. He employed widely scooped archings, good materials, and a range of varnishes including traditional yellow and a better orange-red recipe. Sources offer conflicting descriptions of his soundholes. Mast was also a prolific guitar maker, branding his instruments internally with 'Mast Fils. Toulouse' and using detailed printed labels.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
23 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Lot 80 | Bonhams | August 2026 | £1 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label Lot 909 | Vichy | December 2025 | £703est. € 800-1.000 |
| Cello | Bearing the maker's brands to the back and under the button, some restorations, worm, back edge blemish Lot 103 | Laurent | January 2024 | £7,766est. € 6.000-7.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Josephus Laurentius Mast fecit, Appollini deo harmoniae 1800 Lot 52 | Tarisio | January 2024 | £9,000est. £ 7,000-10,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label Lot 660 | Vichy | December 2021 | £2,449est. € 1.500-2.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 718 | Vichy | June 2018 | £683est. € 800 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand to the lower rib and head, revarnished Lot 209 | Vichy | June 2018 | £1,683est. € 1.500-2.000 |
| Violin | Branded Mast Fils ..., handsome wood and fine bold work, of a golden orange brown colour Lot 80 | Bonhams | October 2014 | £1,250est. £ 1,500-2,500 |
| Cello | Bearing the maker's brands Lot 313 | Vichy | December 2013 | £3,982est. € 2.500-3.000 |
| Violin | Signed internally to the back Mast à Toulouse 1814, branded to the head and lower rib Lot 62 | Vichy | June 2013 | £4,080est. € 2.000-3.000 |
| Violin | Signed to the lower rib J.L. Mast fils Lot 223 | Vichy | June 2013 | £2,856est. € 2.500-3.000 |
| Violin | Violin, 1830 c. Lot 406 | Vichy | December 2012 | £7,025est. € 5.000-7.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label Lot 422 | Vichy | December 2012 | £4,098est. € 3.000-4.000 |
| Violin | 36.3 cm Mirecourt, 1806 | — | January 2010 | £3,849 |
| Violin | Toulouse, 1840 | — | January 2005 | £1,345 |
| Cello | 1820 | — | January 2003 | £4,700 |
| Violin | 1820 | — | January 2002 | £5,297 |
| Violin | 1820 c. | — | January 1999 | £690 |
| Violin | 1810 | — | January 1999 | £453 |
| Violin | 18-- | — | January 1992 | £1,650 |
| Violin | 1810 c. | — | January 1990 | £990 |
| Violin | 1804 | — | January 1989 | £3,080 |
| Violin | 1800-50 | — | January 1980 | £605 |
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Maker Overview
Life
Joseph Laurent Mast (1779-after 1830) was born in Mirecourt, France, in 1779 and died after 1830 in Toulouse, France.
He was the son and pupil of Jean Laurent Mast and was apprenticed to Didier Nicolas.
Joseph Laurent Mast established himself independently in Toulouse around 1800, working in the rue des Balances.
, he was still in Mirecourt in 1820 before settling in Toulouse.
A violin in the Paris Conservatoire Collection bears a label stating: "Josephus Laurentius Mast fecit Apollini Deo Harmonise 1816, repare chez Schubert Epinal, 1831."
Characteristics
- Workmanship
- John Dilworth describes his work as "more classically graceful" than that of his father, Jean Laurent Mast. Cecie Stainer notes that his instruments are of "better workmanship than those of his father."
- Archings
- His instruments feature widely scooped arching of medium height, quite flat across the centre, and are generally described as arched.
- Soundholes
- Sources contain conflicting information regarding the soundholes; John Dilworth describes them as "rather narrow and upright soundholes, elegantly shaped," while Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that "die F-Löcher sitzen bei ihm selten an der richtigen Stelle" (the F-holes are rarely in the right place), and Cecie Stainer states they are "not well cut."
- Purfling
- The purfling mitres are deflected strongly across the corners.
- Varnish
- He used a traditional Mirecourt yellow varnish, but also a "better orange red recipe,". Willibald Leo Lütgendorff mentions his varnish as yellow or reddish and good-looking, while Cecie Stainer notes he used two varnishes, one yellow-brown and the other reddish in colour.
- Materials
- Joseph Laurent Mast utilized good materials, including beautiful wood, for his instruments.
- Decoration
- Some instruments feature painted and decorated backs.
- Other Instruments
- He was also a prolific guitar maker.
- Joseph Laurentius Mast fecit
Apollini, Deo Harmonia
1816John Dilworth - Racommodé par Mast, rue
des Balances à Toulouse, 1808John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Parentage: Joseph Laurent Mast was the son and pupil of Jean Laurent Mast.
- Apprenticeship: He was apprenticed to Didier Nicolas.
- School:, his work clearly shows the influence of his Mirecourtian school.
- Museum Collections: A violin made by Joseph Laurent Mast is preserved in the Paris Conservatoire Collection.
Further Information
- Workshop Location: Joseph Laurent Mast established his workshop in Toulouse, France, in the rue des Balances.
- Branding: Instruments were branded internally and beneath the back button with 'Mast Fils. Toulouse'. Cecie Stainer notes a brand of "Mast fils Toulouse, 1825."
- Labels: Printed labels include "Joseph Laurentius Mast fecit / Apollini, Deo Harmonia / 1816 Racommodé par Mast, rue / des Balances à Toulouse, 1808" and "Josephus Laurentius Mast fecit Apollini Deo Harmonise 1816, repare chez Schubert Epinal, 1831."
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
MAST, Joseph Laurent Born 1779 Mirecourt, d.after 1830 Toulouse France. Son and pupil of Jean Laurent Mast, above. Apprenticed to Didier Nicolas. Established independently in Toulouse c.1800, in the rue des Balances. More classically graceful work than that of Jean Laurent, although still recognisably Mirecourtian. Widely scooped arching of medium height, quite flat across the centre. Rather narrow and upright soundholes, elegantly shaped. Purfling mitres deflected strongly across the corners. Traditional Mirecourt yellow varnish but also a better orange red recipe. Good materials. Some instruments with painted and decorated backs. Also prolific guitar maker. Branded internally and beneath back button: ‘Mast Fils. Toulouse’. Printed labels: Joseph Laurentius Mast fecit / Apollini, Deo Harmonia / 1816 Racommodé par Mast, rue / des Balances à Toulouse, 1808
Cecie Stainer+
Son of Jean Laurent Mast. Was born at Mirecourt and was still there in 1820. He was apprenticed to Nicolas there at the sign of “A la ville de Cremone,” and then settled in Toulouse. Several of his violins are known, and are said to be of better workmanship than those of his father. They are arched, the sound-holes are not well cut, and he used two varnishes, one yellow-brown and the other reddish colour.
He branded his instruments with ” Mast fils Toulouse, 1825.” There is a violin in the Paris Conservatoire Collection which has the label : ” Josephus Laurentius Mast fecit Apollini Deo Harmonise 1816, repare chez Schubert Epinal, 1831.”
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Geb. in Mirecourt, Sohn von Jean L. M., Schüler von Didier Nicolas.
Seine Arbeit lasst seine Schule deutlich erkennen, doch hat er einzelne Geigen
aus schönem Holz mit grosser Sorgfalt durchgeführt, nur die F-Löcher sitzen
bei ihm selten an der richtigen Stelle. Sein Lack ist gelb oder röthlich und sieht gut aus. Er verwandte nebenstehende Brandmarke: der er manchmal die Jahreszahl beifügte und verschiedene Zettel.
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