Ambroise De Comble

Highest auction price achieved
£ 9600.00

By George Hart

It is said that he worked in the shop of Antonio Stradivari, and judging Fait a Tournay par from the character of Ambroise de Comble, 1750 the work, together with that of the varnish, it is not unlikely that he did receive instructions from the great Cremonese maker. The varnish is very like Italian; the colour often a rich red, with much body. His instruments are inclined to roughness as regards workmanship, and therefore are not pleasing to the eye. There is a resemblance to the instruments of Stradivari after 1732 in form though not in workmanship, and he would therefore seem to have copied those late instruments. They may be described as of large pattern, flat model, and having an abundance of wood. They are deserving of attention both from the professor and the amateur, the workmanship being skilful and the material excellent. The tone is large, and frequently possesses the richness so much admired in the works of the Italians. This quality is traceable to the soft and flexible nature of the superior varnish with which these instruments are covered. Several Violas and Violoncellos are extant which were made by De Comble.

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Price History

Type Title Sold Price
Cello 1762 Mon 1st May 95 £ 2185.00
Violin 36.2 cm Tournai, Mid-18th C. Thu 1st February 07 £ 9600.00
Violin 1760 Wed 1st October 03 £ 8319.00
Violin 1796 Sun 1st December 02 £ 9459.00
Violin 1757 Thu 1st October 98 £ 4600.00
Violin 1760 c. Sun 1st March 92 £ 2750.00
Violin 1760 c. Fri 1st November 91 £ 4620.00
Violin 1770 c. Sun 1st September 91 £ 7920.00
Cello 69.9 cm 1850 c. Thu 1st November 90 £ 2090.00
Violin 1750 Sat 1st April 89 £ 320.00
Violin 1772 Fri 1st June 84 £ 2444.00
Violin Tournay, 1800 c. Thu 1st December 05 £ 5588.00

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