VUILLAUME.—Mirecourt, Paris, Brussels; eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The name is probably known wherever the violin is in use owing to the wide celebrity attained by the principal maker of the family, which was of Mirecourt origin. About ten Vuillaumes have been engaged in fiddle making. Four named Claude or Claude Francis operated in Mirecourt from about 1625-1865. Claude Vuillaume II. died in Mirecourt in 1834. Instruments of his make are branded on the backs “Au roi David,” Paris. Jean Baptiste Vuillaume, who made the name famous, was born in Mirecourt in 1798, and was a son of Claude Vuillaume II. He died in Paris in 1875, and at the time of his death his workshops had turned out upwards of three thousand instruments. This fact speaks for itself, and though he was personally a workman of consummate skill and employed assistants of much ability, there can be no question that the world would have been richer in really first-class examples of the copyist’s art had he been content to limit his output to more modest dimensions. But Vuillaume was a keen business man, and knew well enough that extensive production was the one and only way to amass a fortune in the manufacture of new fiddles. The story of his life has been told time and again in books on the violin, and there is no need here to repeat it. He has left some of the finest copies of Stradivari that were ever made, and many that, from a tone point of view, are of little or no account. The instruments made from artificially matured wood, of which many exist, are disastrous failures, and it is fortunate that he desisted after some time from producing such things. His violoncellos are useful instruments, and generally possess a fine tone. He was a fine judge of old Italian work, and many notable violins and basses passed through his hands. Nicolas Vuillaume, his brother, worked in Mirecourt, and died there in 1871. His work is fair, but of the trade class. He was the maker of the so-called “Stentor” violins. Nicolas Francis Vuillaume, another brother—born 1802, died 1876—worked for a time with J. B. Vuillaume, and afterwards went to Brussels, where he was for many years in business. He was maker to the Conservatoire there, and received medals. He was a very fair workman, but much inferior to his brother in ability. Sebastien Vuillaume, a nephew, died in 1876, and was not particularly distinguished. He also worked in Paris.
WAGNER.—Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Nine or more makers are mentioned bearing the name. They worked in different parts of Germany. Benedict Wagner, Elwangen, was at work in that place between about 1720 and 1790. Pattern varies, but they are usually high built. Yellow-brown varnish. He branded his name on the backs. Another Wagner, named Joseph, worked in Constance in the eighteenth century.
WAMSLEY, Peter.—London; first half of eighteenth century. He was the founder of a school of makers, and several workmen, such as Thomas Smith, Joseph Hill, and others, worked with, or imitated him. His instruments are of Stainer pattern, and he generally used prettily marked wood for his backs. Varnish varies in colour, but is chiefly dark red or red-brown. He made a number of violoncellos. Work often unpurfled.
WARNECKE, L. Georges.—Nancy; about 1820-30. He branded his violins with a curious monogram under the bridge.
WASSERMANN, Joseph.—Znaim; late eighteenth century. Examples scarce. Well-made instruments with orange-brown varnish.
WEBER, Michael.—Prague. Died 1844.
WEICHOLD, Richard.—Dresden. A well-known manufacturer of stringed instruments and accessories. Many of the bows bearing his stamp are excellent. He died in 1902.
WELLER.—Markneukirchen; nineteenth century. Several makers of the name are mentioned, but amongst the various Christian names that of “Samuel” does not occur.
WENGER, Gregori Ferdinand.—Augsburg; eighteenth century. Stainer character of work. Varnish red or dark brown.
WERNER.—Nineteenth century. A numerous family originating in Schönbach. A maker named Franz Werner worked in Vienna until about 1825 and was a pupil of Geissenhof. Careful work. Stradivari pattern.