Hippolyte Silvestre (Chretien)

Name: Hippolyte Silvestre (Chretien) auction price records, Amati Instrument Archive
Creator: Amati

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.

Worked Lyon, Lyon or Paris, Paris

Made Cello, Cello Bow, Viola, Viola Bow, Violin, Violin Bow

Family Nephew of Pierre and Hippolyte Silvestre

Auction Price History

Highest auction price

£25,800

TypeDecade of saleAuction houseAttributionCurrency

100 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	January 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	January 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	January 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.	January 2024	£10,415est. € 10.000-12.000
Violin	Lot 56	Bonhams	May 2011	£15,000
Violin	35.9 cm Paris, 1898	—	January 2011	£15,000
Violin	35.6 cm Lyon,, 1876 nÂ°96	—	January 2011	£19,839
Violin	35.1 cm Paris, 1895 c.	—	January 2011	£17,634
Cello	76.3 cm Paris, 1902	—	January 2011	£21,850
Violin	36.0 cm Paris, 1904	—	January 2010	£4,560
Violin Bow	S/E 55 g. without winding and with fine hair	—	January 2010	£1,553
Violin	35.7 cm Paris, 1889	—	January 2010	£23,819
Violin	36.0 cm Lyon, 1875 c. Workshop of	—	January 2010	£5,178
Violin Bow	S/E 58 g.	—	January 2010	£1,074
Violin	35.9 cm Paris, 1896	—	January 2010	£8,823
Violin Bow	S/E 59.0 g. Firm of	—	January 2010	£1,539
Violin	35.8 cm Paris, 1913 nÂ°799	—	January 2009	£4,800
Violin	35.9 cm Paris, 1903 nÂ°521	—	January 2009	£6,223
Violin	35.7 cm Paris, 1903 nÂ°513 (restored soundpost crack)	—	January 2009	£10,890
Violin	35.9 cm Lyon, 1866 nÂ°7	—	January 2009	£18,669
Cello Bow	S/E 66.5 g. without hair and lapping	—	January 2009	£2,524
Violin	35.6 cm Paris, 1888	—	January 2008	£23,500
Cello	76.3 cm Paris, 1892	—	January 2008	£11,700
Violin Bow	S/E 54 g. (without hair)	—	January 2007	£766
Viola Bow	S/E 68.5 g. Probably By "Louis Piernot"	—	January 2007	£1,725
Cello	75.8 cm Paris, 1881	—	January 2007	£13,800
Violin	35.7 cm Lyon or Paris, 1886	—	January 2007	£14,400
Violin	36.1 cm Lyon, 1875 c.	—	January 2006	£9,600
Viola	40.9 cm Lyon, 1873	—	January 2006	£13,200
Viola	41.0 cm Paris, 1903 #530	—	January 2005	£4,342
Violin	Paris, 1918 #800	—	January 2005	£3,158
Violin	Lyon, 1876 #142	—	January 2005	£5,527
Violin	Paris, 1917	—	January 2005	£2,817
Violin	Paris, 1889	—	January 2005	£7,728
Violin	Lyon, 1872	—	January 2005	£9,399
Violin Bow	S/E 64 g.	—	January 2004	£797
Violin Bow	S/E 60 g.	—	January 2004	£6,000
Violin		—	January 2004	£4,642
Violin	France, c. 1900 Attributed to	—	January 2004	£3,600
Violin	Paris,1902	—	January 2004	£9,321
Violin Bow	S/E 60 g.	—	January 2002	£1,306
Violin	1903	—	January 2002	£10,945
Cello	1885	—	January 2002	£25,800
Violin	1862	—	January 2001	£10,401
Violin	1908	—	January 2001	£2,128
Violin	1879	—	January 2001	£14,300
Violin Bow	S/E 53 g.	—	January 2000	£1,126
Violin	1909	—	January 2000	£9,775
Violin	1877	—	January 2000	£8,625
Violin Bow	S/E 60 g.	—	January 1999	£1,495
Violin	1875	—	January 1998	£9,218
Violin	1882	—	January 1998	£8,050
Violin	1863	—	January 1998	£9,200
Violin Bow	S/E 61 g.	—	January 1998	£1,610
Cello	1881	—	January 1998	£22,577
Violin	1913	—	January 1997	£4,600
Violin	1909	—	January 1997	£4,140
Violin Bow	S/E 58 g.	—	January 1996	£1,045
Cello Bow	S/E 79 g.	—	January 1996	£3,680
Violin Bow	G/E 60 g.	—	January 1996	£1,840
Violin	1890	—	January 1996	£4,140
Violin Bow	G/I 61 g.	—	January 1995	£2,097
Violin	1891	—	January 1995	£10,350
Violin Bow	S/E 58 g.	—	January 1995	£2,530
Violin	1901	—	January 1995	£9,775
Violin	1848	—	January 1995	£9,200
Violin	1860	—	January 1995	£5,750
Violin Bow	S/E 63 g.	—	January 1994	£1,150
Violin Bow	S/E 59 g.	—	January 1993	£2,185
Violin	1891	—	January 1993	£2,640
Viola Bow	S/E 68 g.	—	January 1993	£697
Violin	1911	—	January 1993	£5,500
Cello Bow	S/E 77 g.	—	January 1993	£1,380
Viola	43.5 cm 1891	—	January 1993	£6,900
Violin	1918	—	January 1992	£6,820
Viola	40.6 cm 1911	—	January 1992	£5,500
Violin Bow	S/E 62 g.	—	January 1992	£1,540
Violin Bow	S/E 57 g.	—	January 1992	£330
Violin	1890	—	January 1992	£4,950
Violin	1899	—	January 1992	£9,350
Violin Bow	S/E 64 g.	—	January 1992	£550
Violin Bow	S/E 59 g.	—	January 1991	£1,045
Viola	1881	—	January 1991	£11,000
Viola	40.8 cm 1905	—	January 1991	£10,450
Violin Bow	S/E 58 g.	—	January 1991	£2,200
Violin	1911	—	January 1990	£7,700
Violin	1874	—	January 1989	£9,020
Cello Bow	S/E 77 g.	—	January 1987	£660
Violin	1890 c.	—	January 1986	£4,950
Violin	1885	—	January 1985	£4,320
Violin	1897	—	January 1985	£3,741
Viola	1881	—	January 1985	£9,680
Violin	1872	—	January 1985	£2,816
Violin	1891	—	January 1984	£5,500
Violin	1866	—	January 1983	£5,280
Violin	1904	—	January 1982	£935
Violin	1874	—	January 1982	£4,180
Cello Bow	S/E 70 g.	—	January 1981	£322
Violin	1911	—	January 1981	£3,787
Violin	1870	—	January 1980	£1,980

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'.

Recorded labels

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.

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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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Hippolyte Silvestre (Chretien)

Auction Price History

Maker Overview

Life

Characteristics

Influence and legacy

Further Information

Biographies

Lyon School

Auctions

Buying

Selling

Company