Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, French luthier and dealer: quick facts
Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume was the most important French luthier of the 19th century and a central figure in the trade of old Italian instruments. Based in Paris, he made fine violins of his own, but is especially known for his skilled copies of Stradivari and Guarneri 'del Gesù', some so convincing they have caused confusion. He owned and studied great instruments, including the 'Messiah' Stradivari, and his measurements helped spread Cremonese designs. Vuillaume also worked on bows and on acoustic experiments. His own instruments are valued today, and his role as maker, copyist, and dealer makes him essential to the history of how Stradivari's legacy was studied and preserved.
Sources: Tarisio — Cozio Archive of stringed instruments; Library of Congress — Stradivari instruments / Whittall Collection; W. Henry Hill, Arthur F. Hill & Alfred E. Hill — 'Antonio Stradivari: His Life and Work (1644–1737)'; The Metropolitan Museum of Art — musical instruments collection. Educational information only — not financial, investment, or appraisal advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.