Description
Marc André Joseph Laberte (1880 – 1963) inherited the family workshop founded by his father, Pierre Alexis Laberte and Maurice-Emile Laberte in 1876. Although recordsindicate that he was actively involved as both a luthier and bow maker as early as 1911, he would inherit the leadership role at the firm only a few years later in 1915. Under his leadership the firm flourished and grew, collecting and producing both master instruments and renowned craftsman such as Gerorge Apparut,Charles Brugère, andCamille Poirson, to name a few. In 1919, he had successfully managed a merger with FourierMagnié to establish Laberte-Humbert Frères, Fourier Magnié Réunis, which employed over 300 tradesman by the following year. André Emile Philippe Laberte would pick up his fathers mantle as the fifth generation luthier to manage the company but struggled to maintain production, distribution, and further diversification through the turmoil of WWII.
Higher end trade fiddles from the upper echelon of Mirecourt making firms of the first half of the 20th century are increasingly in demand as competitive alternatives to the more expensive Chinese and contemporary Bulgarian instruments prevalent through the market today; priced still significantly lower than well regarded modern makers and offering a tradition in craftsmanship and performance spanning over acentennial now and some generations of dedicated musicians.
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