Bow & Bridge Violin and bow makers, as the old books printed them

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Scan 92

A dictionary of violin makers

22 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 82. See the scan on archive.org.

1also made new ones, using the label: "Schwartz à Strasbourg, 18—."
2Schweizer, Johann Baptist. A maker in Budapest; b 1798, d. 1875. He was a pupil of Geisenhof in Vienna. His violins were made without arching, the workmanship was neatly finished; he also made some tenors
3Segher Girolamo, b. 1646. Was a pupil of Nicola Amati, and was working under him, 1680-82.
4Sellas, Matteo. Was working in Venice 1630-40 at the sign of "Alla Corona." In the Paris Conservatoire Collection are two of his arch-lutes; and at Bologna, in the Liceo Comunale di Musica, is a large guitar with the label: "Matteo Sellas alla corona in Venetia, 1639." A theorbo was dated 1639
5Seni, Francesco A maker in Florence in 1634.
6Senta, Fabrizio. A maker in Turin
7An instrument of his is mentioned in the catalogue made by B Cristofori (Sept 23, 1716) of the instruments belonging to the Duke of Florence.
8Serasati, Domenico. A maker in Naples about 1710-50. His instruments had a good reputation at one time.
9Shaw, John. A maker of viols in London in 1656. Label: "John Shaw att the Goulden harp and Hoboy nere the maypole in the Strand, 1656."
10Siani, Valentino. Said to have lived in Florence in the 17th century.
11Siciliano (Ciciliano), Antonio. A maker in Venice about 1600. A tenor and a bass viola da gamba are in the Modena Museum, Vienna.
12Siciliano, Gioacchino, son of Antonio Siciliano. Was working in Venice about 1680.
13Silva, Joan Vieira da. Was working in Lisbon about 1700. A cither is known of his, inlaid with tortoiseshell and ivory, with six pairs of wire strings.
14Silvestre, Hippolyte, b. Dec. 14, 1808, Saint-Nicolas-du-Port (Meurthe); d. Dec. 3, 1879, Sommerville, 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. Chrétien, his sister's son, and retired to Sommerville, where he died.
15Silvestre, Pierre, brother of Hippolyte; b. Aug. 9, 1801, at Sommerville, near Nancy; d. 1859, Lyons. Was also a pupil of Blaise at Mirecourt, then went to Paris, first working under Lupot and then under Gand. In 1829 he founded the business in Lyons. Hippolyte was in partnership with him, 1831-48; he afterwards continued the business alone until his death in 1859. He copied the pattern of Stradivari with great ability, his instruments are always handsome, owing to the beautiful quality of the wood used, and their tone is often remarkably good; the varnish is very fine and the work most carefully finished, consequently they are increasing in commercial value. It is said he made about 350 instruments bearing his label: "Pierre Silvestre à Lyon, 185—" When working with his brother the label used was: Petrus et Hippolytus Silvestre frères fecerunt Lugdun . 183—" Bronze medals were obtained at the Paris Exhibitions in 1844 and 1855.
16Silvestre neveu See "Chrétien."
17Simon A maker of viols in Lyons, in rue de la Pomme-Rouge, 1568-73. Only his Christian name is known, as in all the documents in which it appears, a blank space is left for the surname, which has never been filled in.
18Simon. Was working at Salzburg in 1772.
19Simon, Claude. A maker in Paris, rue de Grenelle-Saint-Honoré, 1783-88.
20Simon, P., b. 1808, at Mirecourt. Went to Paris in 1838, where he worked for some months under D. Peccate; then went to the workshop of J. B. Vuillaume and remained there till, in 1845, he started his own business. On Peccate's retirement, in 1847, Simon succeeded to his business in the rue d'Angivilliers. He was in partnership with Henry, 1848-51, and afterwards continued his work alone, moving later to rue Saint-Denis, passage Lemoine. He made most excellent bows, and generally marked them with "Simon, Paris," near the nut. He died 1882.
21Simonin, Charles, b. at Mirecourt. Was apprenticed to J. B Vuillaume at Paris, and became one of his most able workmen. He then married and returned for a short time to Mirecourt. In 1841 he settled in Geneva, remaining there for eight years; he left, Sept., 1849, to establish himself in Toulouse. He sent various instruments to the Paris Exhibition in 1855, amongst others a copy of Giuseppe Guarneri of remarkable tone; he obtained a "Mention honorable." Since then he has obtained various awards at other exhibitions.

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