Paul Serdet
Paris, 1858–1934
Paul SERDET (1858-1934) was a master violin maker born in Mirecourt and active in Paris. He apprenticed with Gaillard and J. Derazay, and worked for H. C. Silvestre in Lyons and Paris before establishing his own workshop in 1894 at 28, rue du Faubourg-Poissonnière. Known for his very fine workmanship on Stradivarius and Guarnerius models, he was awarded a silver medal in 1889 and a gold medal at the Paris Exhibition of 1900.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
36 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | André Blervacq collection, bearing the original label n. 1956 and many brands Lot 13 | Aguttes | November 2025 | £8,772est. € 6.000-8.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Paul Serdet Luthier à Paris, 1906 N° 88. Exposition Universelle 1900: Médaille D'Or, branded Lot 3 | Ingles & Hayday | March 2020 | £7,800est. £ 5,000-7,000 |
| Violin | Two-piece back of regular narrow curl, ribs similar, table of fine grain Lot 8 | Apollium | November 2018 | £4,694est. € 4.000-6.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Paul Serdet, luthier à Paris 1903 No. 61, exposition universelle 1900 médaille d'or, branded Lot 133 | Tarisio | June 2018 | £5,100est. £ 4,000-6,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Paul Serdet Luthier à Paris 1895 No. 2 P. S. Lot 130 | Tarisio | May 2018 | £12,386est. $ 12,000-18,000 |
| Violin | René Quenoil collection, bearing the maker's label n. 34 Lot 306 | Vichy | June 2017 | £3,341est. € 5.000-6.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the original label Paul Serdet, Luthier a Paris 1924, No 136 Lot 24 | Brompton’s | December 2016 | £4,320est. £ 2,000-3,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Paul Serdet, luthier à Paris, 1904, no. 22 Lot 111 | Tarisio | October 2016 | £2,760est. £ 2,500-4,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 2 Lot 153 | Vichy | June 2016 | £6,411est. € 6.000-8.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 9 and brands Lot 101 | — | June 2016 | £4,645est. € 4.000-5.000 |
| Viola | Labelled Paul Serdet, Luthier a Paris, 1897, branded to the inside back P Serdet a Paris Lot 96 | Tarisio | October 2014 | £4,796est. $ 7,000-10,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 64 and brands Lot 365 | Vichy | June 2014 | £4,064est. € 4.000-5.000 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, round stick stamped P. SERDET A PARIS Lot 52 | Dorotheum | December 2013 | £1,356est. € 1.000-1.200 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, round stick stamped P. SERDET s PARIS Lot 103 | Dorotheum | June 2013 | £212est. € 200-400 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, round stick stamped P. Serdet a Paris Lot 51 | Brompton’s | June 2012 | £3,600est. £ 2,000-3,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Paul Serdet Luthier a Paris 1914 No. 17 Exposition Universelle Paris Medal D'Or Lot 206 | Brompton’s | March 2012 | £4,560est. £ 2,000-3,000 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Paris, 1912 | — | January 2011 | £6,875 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57 g. | — | January 2010 | £840 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Paris, 1902, #57 | — | January 2007 | £5,956 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1909 | — | January 2007 | £5,710 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Paris, 1911 | — | January 2007 | £2,946 |
| Violin | Paris, 1908 | — | January 2004 | £3,600 |
| Violin | 1904 | — | January 2002 | £9,059 |
| Violin | 1904 | — | January 2000 | £6,779 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 55 g. | — | January 2000 | £1,080 |
| Violin | 1902 | — | January 2000 | £1,955 |
| Violin | 1904 | — | January 1999 | £4,530 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 56 g. | — | January 1998 | £1,623 |
| Viola | 40.8 cm 1902 | — | January 1998 | £11,500 |
| Violin | 1907 | — | January 1997 | £4,600 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. | — | January 1996 | £920 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 69 g. | — | January 1996 | £1,840 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 63 g. | — | January 1994 | £1,380 |
| Violin | 1909 | — | January 1994 | £4,452 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 65 g. | — | January 1985 | £462 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 69 g. | — | January 1984 | £770 |
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Maker Overview
Life
Paul SERDET (1858-1934) was born in Mirecourt in 1858 and died in Paris, France, in 1934.
He underwent a thorough apprenticeship with Gaillard and later in the workshops of J. Derazay.
From 1877, he worked for H. C. Silvestre in Lyons.
, the firm of H. C. Silvestre was transferred to Paris in 1884, and Paul Serdet remained attached to the Maison H. Chretien Sylvestre until 1894.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states that Paul Serdet worked for A. C. Silvestre in Lyon from 1877 to 1883, then moved with him to Paris and continued to work for him until 1894.
Sources contain conflicting information regarding the exact year H. C. Silvestre's firm transferred to Paris, with Henri Poidras stating 1884 and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff implying 1883.
He established himself independently in Paris from 1894 at 28, rue du Faubourg-Poissonnière, where, he was still to be found at the time of writing.
Characteristics
- Models
- He consistently followed the Stradivarius and Guarnerius models.
- Workmanship
- His workmanship is described as very fine, ranking him among the best makers of his time, and his work is considered artistic.
- Varnish
- He used a good transparent varnish in appropriate colors, also referred to as Öllack (oil varnish).
- Paul Serdet
Luthier à Paris 19..John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Apprenticeship: He received a thorough apprenticeship with Gaillard and J. Derazay.
- Employment: He worked for H. C. Silvestre in Lyons and later in Paris.
- Awards: He was granted a silver medal as a collaborator in 1889.
- Awards: He received a Gold Medal at the Paris Exhibition of 1900 for his violins.
Further Information
- Workshop Location: From 1894, his independent workshop was located at 28, rue du Faubourg-Poissonnière in Paris.
- Label: His labels included "Paul Serdet / Luthier à Paris 19.. No..".
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
SERDET, Paul Born 1858 Mirecourt, died 1934 Paris France. Apprenticed to Gaillard and J. Derazay. Worked for H. C. Silvestre in Lyons 1877-1894. Established independently in Paris from 1894 at 28 rue de Faubourg Poissonière. Gold medals awarded 1889 and 1900. Very fine work on Stradivari and Guarneri models. Good transparent varnish in appropriate colours. Paul Serdet / Luthier à Paris 19.. No..
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Schüler von Gaillard und Derazey, arbeitete von 1877—1883 in Lyon bei A. C. Silvestre, siedelte mit ihm nach Paris über und blieb weiter bei ihm bis 1894, in welchem Jahre er seine eigene Werkstatt eröffnete. Seine Arbeit ist künstlerisch, er arbeitet nach Stradivari und Guarneri und verwendet Öllack. Nachdem er schon 1889 eine silberne Mitarbeiter-Medaille erhalten hatte, wurde er 1900 in Paris für seine Geigen mit der goldenen Medaille ausgezeichnet.
Henri Poidras+
Contemporary master maker and expert. After a thorough apprenticeship with Gaillard and later in the workshops of Derazey, in 1877 he was called and attached to the Maison H. Chretien Sylvestre of Lyons, which he left in 1894 — the firm having been transferred to Paris in 1884 — and established himself at 28, rue du Faubourg- Poissonniere, where he is still to be found. A thorough artist, he always followed the Stradivarius and Guarnerius models. His very fine workmanship ranks him among the best makers of our time. A silver medal was granted to him as collaborator in 1889. Gold Medal at the Paris Exhibition of 1900.
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