Paul Bailly French Violin

French violin maker Paul Bailly was born in Mirecourt in 1844 and studied with Jules Gaillard before working in Brussels for Nicolas François Vuillaume, and in Paris for his brother J.B. Vuillaume. Around 1880 he travelled to England, the US, and back to England before finally returning to France.

Bailly settled in Paris for good in 1898, where he built a reputation as a skilled and prolific interpreter of various models, but most of all Stradivari. His cellos are on a fairly large pattern. Overall his instruments, which number more than 3,000, have fine tone quality and often bear a dark red varnish. Bailly's daughter Jenny inherited the shop after his death in 1907.

Label reads: “10 Médailles Or, Vermeil Argent et Bronze ?A Paris, Syndey, Melbourne, ETC.?No. 1118, Paul Bailly
Luthier?Ancien Eleve de J. a. Vuillaume de Paris?rue de Grenelle, Paris, Anne. 19__”