Auguste Sebastien Philippe Bernardel

b. Jan. 12, 1802, at Mirecourt; d. August 6, 1870, at Bougival. One of the most distinguished French makers. He began as an apprentice in Mirecourt, went to Paris in 1820, worked first under Nicolas Lupot and then under C. F. Gand, whom he left in 1826 in order to start a business of his own in the rue Coquilliere. In 1859 he took his two sons into partnership and the firm was called ' Bernardel et fils' ; he retired in 1866 so as to facilitate the association of the Gands in his business, which was then styled " Gand et Bernardel.” He made a large number of excellent instruments, the violoncellos especially having a remarkably fine tone. This was in a violin made by him soon after he left Gand, perhaps the first to contain his signature; it is beautifully finished and has a fine tone. Printed label: " Medaille d'or et d'argent aux expositions de 1844 et 1849. Bernardel, luthier, eleve de Lupot, rue Croix-des-Petits Champs, 21, a Paris, 18— . . . (Signed) Bernardel." Honours : mention, 1827 ; bronze medal, Paris, 1834 and 1839; silver medal, Paris, 1844, for an alto placed in the 1st class; gold medal, Paris, 1849; a medal of the 2nd class, London, 1851; and a medal of the 1st class, London, 1855, for a violin copied from Maggini, a bass, and a double-bass.