SOLD Nicolas Duclos, Barcelona c1760

It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce that this beautiful historic violin has been rescued from obscurity and has been returned to its home town. After several years of research, with a lot of help from Dendron analysis, archive material and other experts, I was able to confirm the identification of a violin as having been made by Nicolas Duclos c1760.

After completing its latest restoration, this glorious violin now resides with the Museum of Music in Barcelona, a lovely addition to their collection.

This is a link to the Museum’s presentation of the Duclos violin:

https://www.3cat.cat/3cat/video/6325862/embed/

It has a certificate of authenticity by John Dilworth dated December 2023.

No major cracks, but some restored woodworm (patched internally).

Medium wide grain to the front, with lovely tight flames to two piece maple back. Yellow varnish.

Ribs appear to be set into back, and lower rib appears to be in one piece, although it has a line (painted?).

Neck graft (possibly Hills). Ebony crown and peg holes bushed. Some overvarnish remains on pegbox.

Narrow saddle. Pin to front at saddle, later addition?

Black of purfling bleeds into the white.

LOB: 358mm.

An absolutely fantastic violin to play, now professionally set-up with Passione strings.

Nicolas Duclos

With the easing of the Spanish guild accreditation in the last quarter of C18th, luthiers from the rest of Spain and abroad were able to set-up business in Barcelona/Madrid. The most famous of these were the Italian Valenzano and the Frenchmen Duclos and Gand.

Nicolas Duclos from Mirecourt made various stringed instruments. Examples of his work can be found in the Museum of Music in Barcleona, including A Viola D’Amore, Cello and Violin.

He first setup business in Barcelona in 1740, and later in Madrid 1760 where he remained until his death in 1781. Some of his instruments were bought by the Royal Spanish Court (Charles IV), listed alongside other famous makers such as Strad/Guarnerius/Amati/Stainer.