Hippolyte Silvestre (Chretien)
Lyon, Lyon or Paris, Paris, 1845–1913
Hippolyte SILVESTRE (CHRETIEN) (1845-1913) was a French luthier, nephew and successor to Pierre and Hippolyte Silvestre. He trained in Mirecourt before taking over the family business in Lyons in 1865. Moving to Paris in 1884, he established his workshop on the rue Faubourg-Poisonnière under the name 'Silvestre Neveau'. Renowned for his excellent copies of Stradivari and Guarneri, he later formed a significant association with Ernest Maucotel, which eventually became Maucotel et Descamp.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
101 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Labelled H. C. Silvestre à Paris 1885, N° 205, branded to the inside back H. C. Silvestre à Paris Lot 139 | Tarisio | October 2024 | £5,919est. € 8.000-12.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 186 and brands to the table and block, in excellent and playing condition Lot 35 | Aguttes | June 2024 | £16,363est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 202 and brands, minor table sound post crack, back blemish Lot 60 | Laurent | June 2024 | £12,338est. € 12.000-15.000 |
| Violin | One-piece back of regular horizontal curl, varnish of a red brown colour on a golden ground Lot 32 | Millon & A. | May 2024 | £10,415est. € 10.000-12.000 |
| Violin | A violin by Hippolyte Chrétien Silvestre, Lyon, 1879 Lot 215 | Amati | June 2022 | £7,900est. £ 8,000-12,000 |
| Violin | Lot 56 | Bonhams | October 2011 | £15,000 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Paris, 1898 | — | October 2011 | £15,000 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Lyon,, 1876 n°96 | — | June 2011 | £19,839 |
| Violin | 35.1 cm Paris, 1895 c. | — | June 2011 | £17,634 |
| Cello | 76.3 cm Paris, 1902 | — | May 2011 | £21,850 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Paris, 1904 | — | June 2010 | £4,560 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 55 g. without winding and with fine hair | — | June 2010 | £1,553 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Paris, 1889 | — | June 2010 | £23,819 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Lyon, 1875 c. Workshop of | — | June 2010 | £5,178 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | April 2010 | £1,074 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Paris, 1896 | — | April 2010 | £8,823 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59.0 g. Firm of | — | February 2010 | £1,539 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1913 n°799 | — | June 2009 | £4,800 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Paris, 1903 n°521 | — | June 2009 | £6,223 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Paris, 1903 n°513 (restored soundpost crack) | — | June 2009 | £10,890 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Lyon, 1866 n°7 | — | June 2009 | £18,669 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 66.5 g. without hair and lapping | — | May 2009 | £2,524 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Paris, 1888 | — | October 2008 | £23,500 |
| Cello | 76.3 cm Paris, 1892 | — | October 2008 | £11,700 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 54 g. (without hair) | — | May 2007 | £766 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 68.5 g. Probably By "Louis Piernot" | — | March 2007 | £1,725 |
| Cello | 75.8 cm Paris, 1881 | — | March 2007 | £13,800 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Lyon or Paris, 1886 | — | February 2007 | £14,400 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm Lyon, 1875 c. | — | July 2006 | £9,600 |
| Viola | 40.9 cm Lyon, 1873 | — | February 2006 | £13,200 |
| Viola | 41.0 cm Paris, 1903 #530 | — | November 2005 | £4,342 |
| Violin | Paris, 1918 #800 | — | November 2005 | £3,158 |
| Violin | Lyon, 1876 #142 | — | November 2005 | £5,527 |
| Violin | Paris, 1917 | — | June 2005 | £2,817 |
| Violin | Paris, 1889 | — | June 2005 | £7,728 |
| Violin | Lyon, 1872 | — | April 2005 | £9,399 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 64 g. | — | October 2004 | £797 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | July 2004 | £6,000 |
| Violin | — | May 2004 | £4,642 | |
| Violin | France, c. 1900 Attributed to | — | March 2004 | £3,600 |
| Violin | Paris,1902 | — | February 2004 | £9,321 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | October 2002 | £1,306 |
| Violin | 1903 | — | June 2002 | £10,945 |
| Cello | 1885 | — | March 2002 | £25,800 |
| Violin | 1862 | — | December 2001 | £10,401 |
| Violin | 1908 | — | October 2001 | £2,128 |
| Violin | 1879 | — | March 2001 | £14,300 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 53 g. | — | November 2000 | £1,126 |
| Violin | 1909 | — | March 2000 | £9,775 |
| Violin | 1877 | — | March 2000 | £8,625 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | March 1999 | £1,495 |
| Violin | 1875 | — | December 1998 | £9,218 |
| Violin | 1882 | — | November 1998 | £8,050 |
| Violin | 1863 | — | November 1998 | £9,200 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. | — | June 1998 | £1,610 |
| Cello | 1881 | — | May 1998 | £22,577 |
| Violin | 1913 | — | March 1997 | £4,600 |
| Violin | 1909 | — | March 1997 | £4,140 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | November 1996 | £1,045 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 79 g. | — | March 1996 | £3,680 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 60 g. | — | March 1996 | £1,840 |
| Violin | 1890 | — | March 1996 | £4,140 |
| Violin Bow | G/I 61 g. | — | December 1995 | £2,097 |
| Violin | 1891 | — | November 1995 | £10,350 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | June 1995 | £2,530 |
| Violin | 1901 | — | March 1995 | £9,775 |
| Violin | 1848 | — | March 1995 | £9,200 |
| Violin | 1860 | — | March 1995 | £5,750 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 63 g. | — | November 1994 | £1,150 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. | — | November 1993 | £2,185 |
| Violin | 1891 | — | October 1993 | £2,640 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 68 g. | — | May 1993 | £697 |
| Violin | 1911 | — | May 1993 | £5,500 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 77 g. | — | April 1993 | £1,380 |
| Viola | 43.5 cm 1891 | — | April 1993 | £6,900 |
| Violin | 1918 | — | November 1992 | £6,820 |
| Viola | 40.6 cm 1911 | — | November 1992 | £5,500 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 62 g. | — | November 1992 | £1,540 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57 g. | — | September 1992 | £330 |
| Violin | 1890 | — | March 1992 | £4,950 |
| Violin | 1899 | — | March 1992 | £9,350 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 64 g. | — | January 1992 | £550 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. | — | November 1991 | £1,045 |
| Viola | 1881 | — | November 1991 | £11,000 |
| Viola | 40.8 cm 1905 | — | April 1991 | £10,450 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | March 1991 | £2,200 |
| Violin | 1911 | — | November 1990 | £7,700 |
| Violin | 1874 | — | March 1989 | £9,020 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 77 g. | — | November 1987 | £660 |
| Violin | 1890 c. | — | May 1986 | £4,950 |
| Violin | 1885 | — | November 1985 | £4,320 |
| Violin | 1897 | — | September 1985 | £3,741 |
| Viola | 1881 | — | July 1985 | £9,680 |
| Violin | 1872 | — | June 1985 | £2,816 |
| Violin | 1891 | — | December 1984 | £5,500 |
| Violin | 1866 | — | April 1983 | £5,280 |
| Violin | 1904 | — | November 1982 | £935 |
| Violin | 1874 | — | April 1982 | £4,180 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 70 g. | — | April 1981 | £322 |
| Violin | 1911 | — | March 1981 | £3,787 |
| Violin | 1870 | — | July 1980 | £1,980 |
No results match those filters.
Maker Overview
Life
Hippolyte SILVESTRE (CHRETIEN) (1845-1913) was born in 1845 in Sommerviller and died in 1913 in Neuilly-Plaisance, France. He was the nephew, pupil, and successor of Pierre and Hippolyte Silvestre in Lyons, being the son of their sister. Born Hippolyte Chrétien, he adopted the family name Silvestre for professional reasons. After initial training in Mirecourt, he joined his uncles and took over their business in 1865. In 1884, he moved his shop to Paris, establishing it in the rue Faubourg-Poisonnière, at various addresses including 24, 20, and 25, operating under the name 'Silvestre Neveau'., he gained a reputation for being both an excellent maker and a keen connoisseur. He visited Moscow in 1891, where Ernest Maucotel was working with E. A. Salzard, which led to a formal association between Silvestre and Maucotel in Paris. This partnership eventually became Maucotel et Descamp at 17 rue de Rome.
Characteristics
- Copies
- He produced very fine copies of Stradivari and Guarneri.
- Materials
- He used excellent materials, although there was frequent use of broad-grained spruce in the tables.
- Varnish
- His instruments featured a good red-brown varnish.
- Labels
- Examples of his labels include 'H. C. Silvestre neveu / à Lyon en 1872. No.44', 'Silvestre et Maucotel / Paris 1904 No..', and 'Hippolyte Chrétien / Silvestre neveu'.
- H. C. Silvestre neveu
à Lyon en 1872John Dilworth - No.44 Silvestre et Maucotel
Paris 1904John Dilworth - No.. Hippolyte Chrétien
Silvestre neveuJohn Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Training: He received initial training in Mirecourt.
- Mentorship: He was a pupil of his uncles, Pierre and Hippolyte Silvestre.
- Succession: At his death, his partner Ernest Maucotel took sole charge of the house, which was then situated in the rue de Rome.
Further Information
- Workshop Locations: His workshop was located in Lyons, then in Paris at the rue Faubourg-Poisonnière (variously at 24, 20, and 25), and later the association with Maucotel was at 17 rue de Rome.
- Business Name: He operated under the name 'Silvestre Neveau' in Paris.
- Collaborations: His visit to Moscow in 1891 led to a formal association with Ernest Maucotel in Paris.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
SILVESTRE (CHRÉTIEN), Hippolyte Born 1845 Sommerviller, died 1913 Neuilly-Plaisance France. Nephew, pupil, and successor of Pierre and Hippolyte Silvestre in Lyons. The son of the sister of Pierre and Hippolyte. Born Hippolyte Chrétien, he added the family name Silvestre for professional reasons. Trained initially in Mirecourt before joining his uncles and taking over the business in 1865. Moved the shop to Paris 1884. Established in the rue Faubourg-Poisonnière; variously at 24, 20, and 25, under the name ‘Silvestre Neveau’. Visited Moscow 1891 where Ernest Maucotel was working with E. A. Salzard. This led to a formal association between Silvestre and Maucotel in Paris which eventually became Maucotel et Descamp at 17 rue de Rome. Very fine copies of Stradivari and Guarneri. Excellent materials (although frequent use of broad grained spruce in the tables) and good red-brown varnish. H. C. Silvestre neveu / à Lyon en 1872. No.44 Silvestre et Maucotel / Paris 1904 No.. Hippolyte Chrétien / Silvestre neveu
George Hart+
Succeeded to the business of his uncles, Pierre and Hippolyte.
Henri Poidras+
Lyons and Paris 1845-1913. Nephew and successor of Pierre and Hippolyte Silvestre in 1865. He settled in Paris in 1884, and gained the reputation of being both an excellent maker and a keen connoisseur. At his death, his partner Ernest Maucotel took sole charge of the house now situated in the rue de Rome. Label : Hippolyte Chretien- Silvestre Neveu : or Silvestre et Maucotel, Paris.
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