Louis Moitessier
Mirecourt, Paris, worked 1780–1824
Louis Moitessier (circa 1780-1825) was a prolific violin maker from Mirecourt, France, known for producing a large number of instruments, often on a large model. His craftsmanship was generally considered ordinary, and he frequently used a brown varnish. Moitessier's instruments are notable for occasional peculiarities such as having the entire body made of maple wood or featuring carved lion's heads instead of scrolls. He was an influential teacher, with C. V. Rambaux being one of his prominent pupils. Moitessier often branded his instruments "Moitessier à Paris" and dated works from Paris, a common practice among Mirecourt makers.
Instruments
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
66 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Labelled Guarneri Lot 567 | Vichy | December 2025 | £2,261est. € 1.000-1.200 |
| Violin | Branded Moitessier à Paris Lot 814 | Vichy | December 2025 | £1,319est. € 1.000-1.500 |
| Violin | Labelled Moitessier Paris 1810 with signature Lot 2315 | Vichy | December 2025 | £903est. € 800-1.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 722 | Vichy | June 2025 | £2,440est. € 1.200-1.500 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's signature to the back Lot 751 | Vichy | June 2025 | £948est. € 800-1.000 |
| Cello | Bearing the maker's brand, many table restorations including sound post crack, neck blemish Lot 108 | Laurent | January 2024 | £6,213est. € 6.000-8.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand to the back, many restorations to the table and back Lot 6 | Aguttes | January 2024 | £825est. € 600-800 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand, fair condition Lot 575 | Laurent | January 2024 | £2,267est. € 1.500-2.000 |
| Violin | Very small hairline crack in the sound post area on the back, crack running from the top treble side f-hole Lot 2421 | Gardiner | January 2024 | £1,708est. £ 1,400-1,800 |
| Violin | Signed internally Moitessier à Paris, one-piece back Lot 103 | De Baecque | January 2024 | £1,143est. € 500-700 |
| Violin | Violin, 1800 c. Lot 14 | Aguttes | November 2023 | £430est. € 300-400 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 2109 | Vichy | November 2023 | £893est. € 400 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 2261 | Vichy | November 2023 | £891est. € 600 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 557 | Vichy | November 2023 | £1,337est. € 1.000-1.500 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label Lot 801 | Vichy | November 2023 | £669est. € 600-800 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 819 | Vichy | November 2023 | £680est. € 800-1.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand to the back Lot 718 | Vichy | May 2023 | £1,876est. € 1.000-1.500 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 163 | Arteal | July 2022 | £1,860est. CHF 1,800-2,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 21 | Vichy | June 2022 | £2,113est. € 1.800-2.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label Lot 2163 | Vichy | May 2022 | £1,583est. € 700 |
| Viola | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 6 | Vichy | December 2021 | £1,266est. € 1.500-2.000 |
| Violin | Branded Moitessier à Paris Lot 763 | Vichy | December 2021 | £970est. € 1.000-1.500 |
| Violin | Lion head Lot 617 | Vichy | December 2021 | £868est. € 800-1.000 |
| Violin | Original brand Lot 256 | Arteal | November 2021 | £5,366est. CHF 800-900 |
| Violin | Branded Moitessier à Paris Lot 225 | Arteal | November 2021 | £702est. CHF 400-500 |
| Violin | Branded Moitessier à Paris Lot 508 | Vichy | June 2021 | £1,710est. € 800-1.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 719 | Vichy | December 2020 | £889est. € 500-600 |
| Violin | Branded, one-piece back of regular curl, ribs and head similar, varnish of a golden brown colour Lot 52 | Apollium | November 2020 | £2,155est. € 2.500-3.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 1128 | Vichy | July 2020 | £431 |
| Violin | Branded Moitessier à Paris Lot 863 | Vichy | June 2019 | £1,320est. € 800 |
| Violin | Branded internally Moitessier a Paris Lot 105 | Brompton’s | June 2019 | £900est. £ 800-1,200 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 714 | Vichy | June 2018 | £578est. € 600 |
| Small Cello | 7/8 size violoncello, bearing the maker's brand under the button Lot 112 | Vichy | June 2018 | £2,103est. € 2.000-3.000 |
| Violin | Branded Moitessier Lot 180 | Vichy | September 2017 | £1,320est. € 800 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 966 | Vichy | June 2017 | £1,044est. € 1.000 |
| Violin | Branded Moitessier à Paris Lot 2 | Vichy | June 2017 | £2,088est. € 1.000-1.500 |
| Viola | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 222 | Vichy | June 2017 | £1,357est. € 1.000-1.500 |
| Violin | Unlabelled, branded to the inside back Moitessier à Paris Lot 174 | Tarisio | October 2016 | £3,872est. $ 3,000-5,000 |
| Violin | Branded Moitessier à Paris, probably revarnished Lot 400 | Vichy | March 2016 | £253est. € 300 |
| Cello | Bearing the maker's brand Lot 425 | Vichy | December 2014 | £7,063est. € 6.000-8.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's brand internally to the back Lot 540 | Vichy | December 2013 | £299est. € 400 |
| Violin | Signed Moitessier and branded to the back, table without varnish Lot 882 | Vichy | June 2013 | £615est. € 600 |
| Violin | One-piece back Lot 136 | Giafferi | March 2012 | £503est. € 400-500 |
| Violin | 36.2 cm Mirecourt, 1790 c. | — | January 2011 | £600 |
| Cello | 74.6 cm Paris | — | January 2010 | £11,392 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Mirecourt, 1840 c. | — | January 2010 | £1,036 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Mirecourt, 1810-1820 c. | — | January 2009 | £1,037 |
| Cello | 75 cm Mirecourt, mid-19th C. Workshop of | — | January 2009 | £2,500 |
| Violin | 36.4 cm Mirecourt, 1790 c. | — | January 2008 | £514 |
| Viola | 38.6 cm Mirecourt, 1830 c. | — | January 2008 | £650 |
| Cello Bow | 35.8 cm | — | January 2007 | £6,807 |
| Violin | 36.4 cm Mirecourt, 1830 | — | January 2007 | £681 |
| Violin | 36.2 cm Mirecourt, 1830 c. | — | January 2007 | £721 |
| Viola | 38.5 cm Mirecourt 1820-1830 c. | — | January 2005 | £1,118 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1820 c. | — | January 2005 | £1,118 |
| Violin | 1840 | — | January 2002 | £942 |
| Violin | 1830 | — | January 2001 | £804 |
| Violin | 18-- | — | January 1991 | £605 |
| Violin | 1810 c. | — | January 1991 | £1,100 |
| Violin | 18-- | — | January 1990 | £1,100 |
| Cello | 1820 | — | January 1989 | £1,925 |
| Viola | 38.4 cm 1800 c. | — | January 1989 | £528 |
| Viola | 1800 c. | — | January 1988 | £935 |
| Violin | 1800 c. | — | January 1986 | £385 |
| Violin | 1800 c. | — | January 1984 | £836 |
| Violin | 1800 c. | — | January 1981 | £474 |
No results match those filters.
Maker Overview
Life
Louis Moitessier (circa 1780-1825) was a violin maker who worked in Mirecourt, France. He was the son of Prosper Antoine Moitessier. Louis Moitessier was a prolific maker, though his work is often described as being of ordinary or mediocre workmanship., he was a very diligent, but thoroughly mediocre, violin maker. While it is uncertain if he worked in Paris in 1810, he did date works from Paris, a practice that Mirecourt makers have historically engaged in.
Characteristics
- Production
- Louis Moitessier made a large number of instruments, primarily violins, often on a large model.
- Materials & Design
- His instruments sometimes featured the belly, back, and sides all cut from maple wood, a peculiarity noted by Cecie Stainer and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff. Instead of a traditional scroll, he sometimes attached carved lion's heads, and some instruments also featured painted decoration.
- Varnish
- His varnish was typically brown and described as meagre or "without fire" by Lütgendorff, though John Dilworth notes that some instruments had a better transparent yellow varnish.
- Labeling & Branding
- Instruments often contained a printed label stating: "Ludovicus Moitessier fecit / anno Domini, 1781." He also frequently used a brand mark: "Moitessier à Paris," even though he primarily worked in Mirecourt.
- Ludovicus Moitessier fecit
anno Domini, 1781John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Mentorship: Louis Moitessier was recognized as an influential and good teacher.
- Pupils: C. V. Rambaux was a notable pupil of Moitessier, studying with him for four years.
- Family Connection: Louis Moitessier was the son of Prosper Antoine Moitessier.
Further Information
- Workshop Location: He worked in Mirecourt, France.
- Branding Practice: Despite working in Mirecourt, he often branded his instruments as if they were made in Paris, using "Moitessier à Paris."
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
MOITESSIER, Louis Worked circa. 1780-1824 Mirecourt France. Son of Prosper Antoine Moitessier, below. Prolific maker on a large model. Well made but with meagre brown varnish; some with rather better transparent yellow varnish. Some with carved lion’s head or painted decoration; others recorded with both back and table cut from maple. Although he was an influential teacher, notably of C. V. Rambaux, his own work is of little general worth. Generally branded as if made in Paris: ‘Moitessier à Paris’. Printed label: Ludovicus Moitessier fecit / anno Domini, 1781
Cecie Stainer+
A maker at Mirecourt about 1780 to 1825. He made a large number of instruments, mostly violins, of ordinary workmanship with brown varnish. One violin, fairly well made, was peculiar in having the belly as well as the back and sides of maple-wood ; the tone was good. In it was the label: ” Ludovicus Moitessier fecit, anno Domini 1781.” Rambaux was a pupil of his for four years.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Sehr fleissiger, aber durchaus mittelmässiger Geigenmacher. Seine Versuche,
Geigen ganz aus Ahornholz herzustellen, seien hier nur der Seltsamkeit
halber erwähnt. Sein Lack ist braun und ohne Feuer. Statt der Schnecke
brachte er manchmal Löwenköpfchen an. Dass er 1810 in Paris gearbeitet hat,
ist ungewiss; wohl aber hat er Arbeiten aus Paris datirt, was übrigens die Mirecourter
bis auf den heutigen Tag gerne thun. Er war jedoch ein guter Lehrer.
Einer seiner Schüler ist Cl. V. Rambaux. Ausser seinem Zettel gebrauchte er oft auch
eine Brandmarke: »Moitessier à paris«.
Sell your instrument with Amati
Get started by uploading photos of your instrument for our experts to review.
Sell your instrument with Amati
Get started by uploading photos of your instrument for our experts to review.
