Hippolyte Silvestre
1808–1879
Hippolyte Silvestre (1808-1879) was a French luthier known for his partnership with his brother Pierre in Lyon, forming Silvestre Frères. After training with Blaise and J.-B. Vuillaume, he contributed to the family business, which he managed for a period after his brother's death before transferring it to his nephew. His instruments, crafted on classical Cremonese models with shaded varnish, are described as "very good clean professional work," though individually labeled pieces are rare.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
33 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bearing the maker's label n. 209 and brand to the upper block, table cracks Lot 25 | — | June 2025 | £15,784est. € 12.000-15.000 | |
| Labelled Stradivari, back patch, table crack and worm damages Lot 215 | — | November 2023 | £11,123est. € 10.000-12.000 | |
| Bearing the maker's label, good condition Lot 212 | — | December 2022 | £14,512est. € 15.000-20.000 | |
| Labelled Fait par Hippolyte Silvestre à Lyon en 1860 Lot 129 | — | October 2021 | £19,960est. € 20.000-30.000 | |
| Bearing the maker's brand, lower rib crack, craquelled varnish, otherwise good condition Lot 210 | — | June 2021 | £38,480est. € 35.000-40.000 | |
| Labelled H. C. Silvestre Neveu, à Lyon en 1868 No 24 Lot 144 | — | October 2020 | £14,400est. £ 10,000-15,000 | |
| Labelled H. C. Silvestre, à Paris 1886, No 228, branded to the inside back and top H.C. Silvestre à Paris Lot 28 | — | July 2020 | £20,400est. £ 18,000-25,000 | |
| Bearing the maker's label and brand to the upper block, good condition Lot 275 | — | June 2019 | £19,131est. € 13.000-15.000 | |
| Labelled H. C. Silvestre a Paris 1896, numbered 351, one small crack in table, good condition Lot 65 | — | October 2018 | £24,000est. £ 20,000-30,000 | |
| Bearing the maker's label, good condition Lot 25 | — | June 2018 | £21,032est. € 12.000-15.000 | |
| Labelled Jean Baptiste Vuillaume à Paris 3. rue Demours - Ternes 1865 Lot 161 | — | March 2018 | £18,000est. £ 18,000-25,000 | |
| Labelled H. C. Silvestre, Neveu a ..., minor repair to back button, in an almost perfect state of preservation Lot 254 | — | March 2018 | £18,000est. £ 15,000-18,000 | |
| Labelled Silvestre et Maucotel, Paris 1900 no 407, grand prix exposition, branded H C Silvestre a Paris Lot 165 | — | June 2017 | £22,800est. £ 15,000-22,000 | |
| Labelled Fait par Hippolyte Silvestre à Lyon en 1866 Lot 205 | — | May 2017 | £16,569est. $ 18,000-25,000 | |
| After Maggini, labelled H. C. Silvestre a Paris 1885, HCS ..., minor repairs to table, repairs to peg box Lot 112 | — | October 2016 | £6,600est. £ 4,000-6,000 | |
| Labelled Fait par Hippolyte Silvestre, en Lyon a 1847, minor repairs to table and ribs Lot 223 | — | October 2016 | £18,000est. £ 18,000-25,000 | |
| Labelled H.C. Silvestre Neveu à Lyon en 1866 No. 11 Lot 11 | — | November 2015 | £18,000est. £ 12,000-18,000 | |
| Inscribed internally in the upper back Hippolyte Silvestre, Paris 1847, branded H. Silvestre Lot 228 | — | November 2015 | £19,200est. £ 16,000-20,000 | |
| Labelled H. C. Silvestre Neveu, à Lyon en 18... No. ... Lot 115 | — | June 2015 | £21,240est. £ 18,000-25,000 | |
| Labelled H.C. Silvestre, a Paris, 1897, No. 357, branded to the inside back H.C. Silvestre a Paris Lot 116 | — | June 2015 | £18,880est. £ 18,000-25,000 | |
| Bearing the maker's label n° 163, good condition Lot 20 | — | June 2015 | £12,262est. € 6.000-8.000 | |
| Labelled ... Silvestre, Lyon en 1867, varnish to the top restored Lot 194 | — | March 2015 | £10,170est. £ 10,000-15,000 | |
| Branded, two-piece back of regular horizontal curl, varnish of a red brown colour on a golden ground Lot 55 | — | February 2015 | £7,076est. € 8.000-10.000 | |
| Bearing the maker's label n° 333 and brands, two table restorations Lot 172 | — | June 2014 | £7,740est. € 8.000-10.000 | |
| Bearing the maker's label no. 46, sound post crack, lower block worm Lot 97 | — | March 2014 | £18,407est. € 20.000-25.000 | |
| Labelled ... H. C. SILVESTRE ... NEVEU A LYON EN 1825 ... Lot 360 | — | November 2013 | £2,780est. $ 2,000-4,000 | |
| Bearing a facsimile label H. C. Silvestre, a Paris, 1885 Lot 282 | — | October 2013 | £17,311est. $ 18,000-25,000 | |
| Bearing the maker's label, many back and table restorations, back sound post crack Lot 66 | — | June 2013 | £5,100est. € 4.000-6.000 | |
| Labelled HC SILVESTRE, A PARIS 1898 Lot 37 | — | April 2013 | £7,774est. $ 9,000-12,000 | |
| Labelled H.C. Silvestre neveu, à Lyon, en 1880, No. 145, branded to the block Silvestre Neveu à Lyon Lot 346 | — | November 2012 | £14,980est. $ 20,000-30,000 | |
| Bearing the maker's label, good condition Lot 110 | — | June 2012 | £21,350est. € 15.000-18.000 | |
| Labelled H. C. Silvestre à Paris, 1899, No. 386 Lot 34 | — | April 2012 | £13,349est. $ 15,000-22,000 | |
| Violin | Labelled H.C. Silvestre a Paris 1889, No. 278, further labelled Expon Univ Le Paris 1889, Medaille D'Or Lot 35 | Brompton’s | January 2012 | £9,000est. £ 5,000-7,000 |
No results match those filters.
Maker Overview
Life
Hippolyte SILVESTRE (1808-1879) was born on December 14, 1808, in Saint-Nicolas-du-Port, Meurthe, France, and passed away on December 3, 1879, in Sommerviller, near Nancy. He began his career as an apprentice with Blaise at Mirecourt, and later worked in the shop of J.-B. Vuillaume in Paris. In 1829, or 1831, and Cecie Stainer, he entered into a partnership with his brother Pierre in Lyon, forming Silvestre Frères. He collaborated with his brother until 1848, when he retired to Sommerviller, continuing to make instruments as a hobby. Following the death of his brother Pierre in 1859, Hippolyte was compelled to resume management of the concern in Lyon to prevent its collapse. He continued in this role until 1865, when he retired once more to Sommerviller, transferring the business to his nephew, M.-H.-C. Silvestre, also referred to as Chrétian or H. Chretien.
Characteristics
- Workmanship
- Hippolyte Silvestre's work, though considered by Henri Poidras not to be equal to that of his brother, "deserves much praise." John Dilworth describes his output as "very good clean professional work of a commercial sort."
- Models and Varnish
- He crafted instruments on "classical Cremonese models with shaded varnish,".
- Labeling
- Instruments bearing his individual label are "very rare" because he was primarily involved in the business aspect of the partnership. Joint labels with his brother Pierre are more frequently encountered than his solo-labeled pieces.
Influence and legacy
- Apprenticeship: Hippolyte Silvestre was a pupil of Blaise in Mirecourt.
- Mentorship: He later worked with J.-B. Vuillaume in Paris, or in Mirecourt.
- Succession: In 1865, Hippolyte Silvestre transferred the family business to his nephew, M.-H.-C. Silvestre, also known as Chrétian or H. Chretien, who was his sister's son.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
SILVESTRE, Hippolyte Born 1808 Saint-Nicolas-du-Port, died 1879 Sommerviller France. Pupil of Blaise and J. B. Vuillaume in Mirecourt. Associated with his brother Pierre from 1831 as Silvestre Frères. Retired to Sommerviller 1848, but after Pierre’s death in 1859 resumed work at his shop in Lyons. Passed on the business to his nephew Chrétian 1865 and retired again to Sommerviller. His own labelled instruments are very rare since he was mostly involved in business. Joint labels with Pierre are more often seen than individual labels. Very good clean professional work of a commercial sort on classical Cremonese models with shaded varnish.
Cecie Stainer+
b. Dec. 14. 1808, Saint-Nicolas-du-Port (Meurthe); d. Dec. 3,1879, Sommerviller, near Nancy. Was first a pupil of Blaise at Mirecourt, then of J. B. Vuillaume at Paris. In 1831 he joined his brother Pierre at Lyons, and worked with him till 1848. On the death of Pierre in 1859 he again took up the business, and continued in it till 1865, when he transferred it to H. Chretien, his sister’s son, and retired to Sommerviller, where he died.
George Hart+
Brother of Pierre, with whom he entered into partnership at Lyons, in 1829. Hippolyte, worked in the shop of Vuillaume.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Schüler von Blaise in Mirecourt und später von J. B. Vuillaume in Paris. Im Jahre 1831 trat er als Theilhaber in das Geschäft seines Bruders Pierre ein, wo er bis 1848 blieb. Später zog er sich nach Sommerviller zurück. Nach dem Tode seines Bruders übernahm er 1859 die Werkstatt wieder und behielt sie bis 1865. Er ging dann wieder nach Sommerviller, wo er starb.
Henri Poidras+
Lyons 1808-1879. Born af Saint- Nicolas-du-Port (Meurthe). Like his brother, he was apprenticed with Blaise at Mirecourt. Later, he was a workman with J.-B. Vuillaume, then went into partnership with his brother at Lyons in. 1831, collaborating with him until 1848, when he retired to Sommerviller, continuing to make instruments as a hobby. At the death of his brother Pierre he was obliged to resume management of the concern to save it from disaster. In 1865 he retired again, leaving the business to his nephew,, M.-H.-C. Silvestre. His work, though not equal to that of his brother, deserves much praise.
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.
