Edmond Saunier

History

Edmond SAUNIER (circa 1730-after 1783) was born around 1730 in Mirecourt, France, and was active until at least 1783 in Paris.

He worked for D. F. Lambert in Nancy before establishing himself in Bordeaux, where he was active from 1754 to 1765.

By 1770, he had moved to Paris, initially residing in the Rue Tiquetonne. From 1773 or 1775 until 1783, he lived in the Rue des Prouvaires.

Craft

• Workmanship: Edmond Saunier produced good work, described as 'superior work' by Cecie Stainer and 'well-finished' by John Dilworth.
• Varnish: His instruments typically featured a yellow varnish.
• Model: He employed a flat model or flat arch, characteristic of the old Mirecourt kind or Mirecourt school.
• Instruments: While he made good violins, he was particularly renowned for his guitars and mandolines, producing a great many plucked instruments of diverse types.
• Branding: His instruments were branded internally with 'Saunier' or 'Saunier A Paris'.

Influence

• Teacher: According to Fétis, he was a pupil of a Lambert in Nancy, though Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes this Lambert is 'nicht nachweisbaren' (unproven).
• Pupils: His pupils included Piete and Nicolas Fourier.

Legacy

• Exhibitions: A mandoline-alto made by Saunier and dated 1780 was exhibited in Paris in 1889.

Further Information

• Addresses: In Paris, he was located at 270 rue Saint-Martin circa 1766, then in the rue Tiquetonne from 1770, and from 1773 or 1775 to 1783 in the rue des Prouvaires, specifically between the rue des Deux-Ecus and the rue Saint-Honoré.
• Labels: Examples of his labels include 'Saunier a Bordeaux, 1754' and 'Saunier / à Bordeaux / 1754'. A Paris label from 1775 reads: 'Saunter, Luthier, demeure présentement rue des Prouvaires, entre la rue des / Deux-Ecus et celle Saint- / Honoré / Paris 1775'.

Summary

Edmond Saunier, born circa 1730 in Mirecourt, was a notable luthier who worked in Nancy, Bordeaux (1754-1765), and Paris (from 1770 to at least 1783). He was known for his good quality instruments, characterized by a flat model and yellow varnish, and was particularly celebrated for his guitars and mandolines, though he also made good violins. He was a pupil of Lambert in Nancy and taught Piete and Nicolas Fourier.