Jean Francois Pillement
Auction price history
Highest auction price
£7,395
| Type | Details | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Labelled Pillement, one-piece back, table cracks | May 2020 | £199 |
| Violin | 37.0 cm Mirecourt, mid19th C. | May 2011 | £656 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Mirecourt, 1800 c. [Probably by] | February 2011 | £1,410 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Mirecourt, 1810 c. | October 2009 | £1,320 |
| Violin | 36.2 cm Paris, 1800 c. | June 2009 | £312 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Mirecourt, 1840 c. | June 2009 | £1,037 |
| Viola | 39.3 cm Mirecourt, 1810/1820 c. (some restorations) | June 2009 | £1,763 |
| Violin | 36.3 cm Mirecourt, 1840 c. | June 2009 | £156 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm Mirecourt, 1840 c. (some restorations) | June 2009 | £830 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Mirecourt, 1800 c. (restored soundpost crack) | December 2008 | £1,536 |
| Cello | 72.4 cm Mirecourt, 1840 c. | December 2006 | £5,193 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm 1800 c. | September 2006 | £300 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Mirecourt, 1800 c. | June 2006 | £809 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1840 c. | November 2005 | £401 |
| Violin | France, 1810 c. | June 2005 | £4,709 |
| Violin | Mirecourt, 1830 c. | June 2004 | £550 |
| Violin | 1790 | November 2002 | £2,530 |
| Cello | 1800 | May 2001 | £7,395 |
| Cello | 1790 c. | June 2000 | £3,220 |
| Violin | 1790 | June 2000 | £860 |
| Violin | 1830 | December 1999 | £260 |
| Violin | 1800 | March 1999 | £762 |
| Violin | 1830 | December 1998 | £369 |
| Violin | 1815 c. | November 1996 | £1,380 |
| Violin | 1790 c. | February 1994 | £196 |
| Cello | 1820 c. | September 1992 | £2,200 |
| Violin | 1800 c. | September 1992 | £605 |
| Violin | 1790 c. 1/2 Size | July 1992 | £387 |
| Cello | 1800 c. | June 1991 | £2,200 |
| Violin | 1800 c. | July 1990 | £352 |
| Violin | 1800 c. | July 1990 | £176 |
| Cello | 1800-25 | November 1986 | £880 |
| Viola | 38.1 cm 1800-25 | May 1986 | £990 |
| Violin | 1800 c. | May 1986 | £550 |
| Violin | 1800 c. | March 1986 | £388 |
| Violin | 1800 c. | May 1981 | £264 |
| Cello | 1800 c. | October 1980 | £1,430 |
Maker Overview
History
Jean Francois Pillement (1758-after 1830) was born in 1758 in Mirecourt, France, and died after 1830.
He was known as 'Pillement père', and while some authorities initially assumed 'Jean François Pillement' was his son, John Dilworth clarifies that 'Jean' and 'Jean François' refer to the same individual, and this seems not to be the case.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also notes that he was probably from Mirecourt and that a label from 1830 identifies him as F. Pillement père, suggesting a son might have also been a violin maker; this son might be the 'Lété Pillement' in Turin, whose name was found in a guitar.
Craft
- Instrument Types: He produced many fine violins, cellos, and double basses.
- Workmanship: His workmanship was not of the first order, and his materials were usually plain.
- Varnish: The varnish he used was good but inconsistent in shade and texture, and according to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, it was quite dark.
- Cello Quality: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that his cellos, whose backs were usually made from one piece, were generally better than his violins.
- Sound Quality: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states that his work was very uneven, with some very mediocre violins alongside others that sounded quite good.
Influence
- Stylistic Evolution: According to John Dilworth, his early work is attributed to the school of Gavinies style, with subsequent work on Amati and finally Stradivari models.
Legacy
- Museum Collections: The royal collection in Berlin possesses a violin by Pillement from the Snoeck collection (No. 532), as noted by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff.
Further Information
- Branding and Labeling: His instruments were branded and labeled variously as 'Mirecourt', 'Paris', and 'Cremona', though all were made in Mirecourt.
- Internal Branding: Instruments were branded internally with 'F. Pillementi / Père. A. Cremona', 'Pillemont père/ à Mirecourt', or 'F. Pillemont père/ à Paris'.
- Label Examples: Specific labels include 'Pillemont père / à Mirecourt fecit / anno 1799' and 'F. Pillement père / à Paris fecit / anno 1806'.
Biographies
John Dilworth
PILLEMENT (PILLEMONT), (Jean) François Born 1758, d. after 1830 Mirecourt France. Known as ‘Pillement père’, since some authorities assume that ‘Jean François Pillement’ is his son, but this seems not to be the case. ‘Jean’ and ‘Jean François’ are the same individual. Many fine violins, cellos, and double basses. Branded and labelled variously ‘Mirecourt’, ‘Paris’ and ‘Cremona’, all made nevertheless in Mirecourt. Henley attributes his early work to the school of Gavinies style; subsequent work on Amati and finally Stradivari models. Workmanship not of the first order. Materials usually plain. Varnish good but inconsistent in shade and texture. Branded internally: ‘F. Pillementi / Père. A. Cremona’, ‘Pillemont père/ à Mirecourt’ or ‘F. Pillemont père/ à Paris’. Pillemont père / à Mirecourt fecit / anno 1799 F. Pillement père / à Paris fecit / anno 1806
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