Alfred Vidoudez

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£5,750

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Violin	Labelled Alfred Vidoudez Luthier du Conservatoire à Genève l'an 1924 156, branded A. Vidoudez Geneve	May 2024	£5,183
Violin		October 2011	£5,750
Violin	35.9 cm Geneva, 1924	October 2011	£5,750
Viola Bow	S/I 66.5 g.	April 2011	£2,250
Violin	35.7 cm GenÃ¨ve, 1912	December 2010	£3,935
Viola Bow	G/T 71.5 g. 1940 c.	October 2010	£3,250
Viola	42.6 cm Geneva, 1930 c.	December 2008	£1,680
Violin Bow	S/E 63.5 g.	February 2007	£939
Cello Bow	S/E 79 g. Geneva	May 2006	£638
Violin	Geneva, 1927	November 2005	£4,560
Violin Bow	S/E 60.5 g. [made for]	October 2005	£983
Violin Bow	S/E	February 2005	£1,050
Violin	Geneva, 1904 [Attributed to]	July 2004	£3,107
Cello Bow	S/E 80 g.	June 1992	£1,430
Cello Bow	G/I 87 g.	March 1986	£1,138
Viola Bow	S/T 69 g.	July 1985	£756
Cello Bow	S/E 79 g.	February 1985	£858

Maker Overview

History

Alfred Vidoudez (1879-1943) was born in Geneva in 1879 and died in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1943. He established himself independently in Geneva from 1904. Vidoudez was appointed luthier to the Geneva Conservatoire. He authored a small book titled Quelques considerations sur mon metier ('A few remarks upon my profession'), which was presented as a lecture to the Industrial and Commercial Class of the Society of Arts at Geneva.

Craft

Models: Alfred Vidoudez's violins were based on the patterns of Stradivarius or Guarnerius, but he was not a servile copyist, incorporating his own personality into the general outline, sound holes, and scroll.
Workmanship: His work is characterized by accurate and clean workmanship in the French style.
Varnish: At the beginning of his career, he used a thick brown-red oil varnish, which he later replaced with a lighter and more supple coating of gold-yellow or orange-red shade.

Influence

Training: Alfred Vidoudez was a disciple of the French School. He studied first at Mirecourt with Justin Bazin, then worked with Mougenot in Brussels, and finally studied in Paris under the guidance of Léon Bernardel after his military service.

Legacy

Appointments: Alfred Vidoudez was appointed luthier to the Geneva Conservatoire.
Awards: He was awarded medals at Berne and Lyons.
Publications: He authored a book titled Quelques considerations sur mon metier ('A few remarks upon my profession').

Further Information

Label Inscription: An example of his label reads: "Alfred Vidouez, Luthier du Conservatoire / à Genève l’an 1916".

Summary

Alfred Vidoudez (1879-1943) was a Swiss luthier born and active in Geneva, where he established his independent workshop in 1904. He trained with notable figures of the French School, including Justin Bazin, Mougenot, and Léon Bernardel. Vidoudez was known for his accurate and clean workmanship, producing instruments based on Stradivari and Guarneri models while imbuing them with his personal style. He served as luthier to the Geneva Conservatoire, received medals at Berne and Lyons, and published a book on his profession.

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Biographies

John Dilworth Henri Poidras

John Dilworth

VIDOUDEZ, Alfred Born 1879, Worked Brussels Belgium, died 1943 Geneva Switzerland. Pupil of G. Bazin in Mirecourt. Subsequently worked for Mougenot in Brussels. After military service went to Léon Bernardel in Paris. Established independently in Geneva from 1904. Appointed luthier to the Geneva Conservatoire. Medals awarded at Berne and Lyons. Stradivari and Guarneri models. Accurate and clean workmanship in French style. Earlier work with substantial red-brown oil varnish. Later used a thinner paler golden-yellow or orange. Alfred Vidouez, Luthier du Conservatoire / à Genève l’an 1916 [Boltshauser]