Leo (II) Sir

History

Leo (II) SIR (1883-1915) was born in 1883 in Bordeaux, France. He was the son and pupil of Leo Sir (I), and tragically died in 1915 in Rennes, France, as a casualty of World War I. In 1913, he assisted his father in the construction of a notable double-quintet (dixtuor).

Craft

• Model: His personal model was described as original and individual, drawing inspiration from both Amati and Stradivari, positioning itself uniquely between these two masters. Henri Poidras specifically noted that while his model was highly individual, its outline remained consistent with that of Stradivarius.
• Varnish: He employed a rich, soft-textured red-brown varnish applied over an amber ground. This varnish is also characterized as a vivid red oil varnish on an ambered background, consistently praised for its fine quality and generous substance.
• Varnish Characteristics: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff observed a particular characteristic of his gold-red oil varnish, noting its tendency to penetrate the wood.

Influence

• Mentorship: His foundational training in violin making was provided by his father, Leo Sir (I), under whom he served as both son and pupil.
• Further Training: He further honed and perfected his skills through dedicated study with C. Brugère (Charles Brugere) between 1901 and 1902.
• School: He was instrumental in establishing the Ecole Bordelaise, located in Marmande.

Legacy

• Awards: His exceptional craftsmanship was recognized with medals at Liège in 1905 and a Grand Prix at Bordeaux in 1907.
• Death: His promising career was tragically cut short by his death in 1915, a direct consequence of World War I.

Further Information

• Collaboration: He collaborated with his father on the creation of a double string quintet, also known as a dixtuor. This instrument was notably presented by the composer Hyard at a concert held at the Societé Positiviste in December 1913, and subsequently by M. Emmanuel at the Conservatoire.
• Workshop: He was actively involved in his mother"s business, which had its previous location in Langon.
• Label: His instruments bear a distinctive manuscript label that reads "L. Sir / Marmonde 1912 / No..".

Summary

Leo (II) SIR (1883-1915) was a French luthier, son and pupil of Leo Sir (I), whose promising career was tragically cut short by World War I. Known for his individual model influenced by Amati and Stradivari, and a distinctive rich red oil varnish, he received awards at Liège and Bordeaux. He also established the Ecole Bordelaise and collaborated with his father on innovative instruments.