Amati > Makers Archive > Francois-Louis Pique

Francois-Louis Pique

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£43,300

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Violin	35.8 cm Paris, 1808	November 2011	£33,832
Violin	36.2 cm Paris, 1800 c.	October 2011	£37,250
Violin	35.8 cm 1800 c. [Attributed to & probably by]	May 2009	£19,410
Violin	36.1 cm Paris, 1793	March 2009	£43,250
Violin	35.9 cm 1780 c. [Possibly by]	March 2009	£3,156
Violin	35.5 cm Paris, 1998	March 2009	£21,301
Violin	36.0 cm Paris, 1810 c. with Literature	October 2008	£25,000
Violin	36.0 cm Paris, 1790 c. [Lit: The Cooper Collection]	March 2008	£31,700
Violin	35.9 cm Paris, 1815	May 2007	£23,566
Viola	39.1 cm Paris, 1790 c.	October 2006	£9,853
Violin	Paris, 1798	October 2004	£36,522
Violin	1809	June 2001	£43,300
Violin	1820	June 2001	£235
Violin	1805	December 1999	£19,123
Violin	1800 c.	October 1995	£29,900
Violin	1800-20	June 1992	£13,200
Violin	1811	November 1990	£18,700
Viola	38.7 cm 1802	November 1989	£8,800
Violin	1815	June 1988	£13,200
Violin	1808	March 1986	£5,060
Violin	18--	April 1985	£5,616
Violin	1810	April 1984	£5,720
Violin	1798	April 1982	£7,920
Cello	1800 c.	May 1981	£18,700

Biographies

John Dilworth Cecie Stainer Willibald Leo Lütgendorff

John Dilworth

PIQUE, François-Louis Born 1758 Roret, Mirecourt, died 1822 Charenton-Saint-Maurice France. Apprenticed to E. Saunier in Mirecourt. Established in Paris from 1777 on the rue Coquillière. In rue Platrière 1778-9 before returning to the rue Coquillière, and moved finally to 52 rue de Grenelles Saint-Honoré. Retired to Charenton 1816. Highly important and influential maker, a guiding light of the post-revolutionary Paris school. Distinguished from the earlier ‘vieux Paris’ style by an academic application of Stradivari ideas and workmanship. Although born in the same year as Nicolas Lupot, is seen as the senior of the two in that he was established in Paris from an earlier date and commissioned work from Lupot from c.1792. Lupot himself settled in the capital 1796 and by the time of Pique’s retirement in 1816 was clearly the more prestigious maker. Pique’s own work is generally on the large scale, and a little clumsy compared to the best work of Lupot. Not so slavish in his adherence to Stradivari in the detail of his work; scrolls are well-proportioned but often quite distinctive, if not eccentric. Ebony purfling generally has an exaggerated mitre, sweeping across the corner. Functionally very good instruments. Materials and varnish usually very fine, with a preference for one-piece backs. Some have relatively coarse wood in the tops. The varnish can also vary from a rather dry dull red to a more luscious and oily orange-brown with a tendency to craquelure. Soundholes usually fairly straight and upright. Violas and cellos extremely rare. Manuscript labels: Pique rue grenelle N25 / fait à Paris 1777 Pique / rue Coquillière / vis-à-vis le Roulage / de France. à Paris, 1791 Pique rue de Grenelle / St. Honoré No 52 / à Paris, 1797 Pique Rue Coquillière / vis à vis L’hotel du / Roulage à Paris, 1789 Printed label: Pique, rue de Grenelle / St. Honoré, au coin de celle / des 2 Ecus, à Paris, 18..