1/2 Laberte-Humbert, Mirecourt, 1910 (FR020) $6,250 CDN

1/2 Laberte-Humbert, Mirecourt, 1910 (FR020) $6,250 CDN

A lovely small half sized cello made in Mirecourt, France by the renowned Laberte-Humbert workshop in 1910. .

Laberte-Humbert was established in 1876 by brothers Maurice-Emile and Pierre Alexis Auguste Laberte. The firm grew from strength to strength throughout the turn of the century, producing some very fine instruments and was eventually merged with the Fournier Magnie company in 1920. This new expanse of violin talent and knowledge from nearly 300 years of combined experience making violins led Laberte-Humbert to become one of the most renowned workshops of the 20th Century. It became very profitable, managing to diversify through the 1930s depression by creating gramophones and radios under the brand name “Stradivox”. By 1930 the firm employed up to 500 workers.

From 1902 until the second world war, Labert-Humbert employed many of the best luthiers in France, including Joseph Aubry, Charles Brugere, Camille Poirson and Georges Apparut these fantastic makers, under the guidance of Marc Labert (Pierre Alexis Auguste’s son) produced some wonderful string instruments.

In the early 1900s inspired by Marc Laberte’s personal collection of fine and rare instruments such as the famous Stradivarius known as The Rising Sun, along with other instruments by Amati, Guarneri and Lupot etc, the Laberte, the firm produced their own fine ‘copies’ and models.

The firm didn’t survive through the economic crisis following the Second World War, and Philippe, Marc’s son was forced to close Laberte-Humbert in 1968, leaving behind a large number of very well made and well respected violins which are still appreciated by musicians around the world today.

The cello is in excellent condition and is professionally set up to the highest standards and strung with Larsen Original strings.

This would make a very fine cello for a prominent and advancing student. It produces a very fine, focused tone and punches well above it's weight for a small instrument. But most importantly it is so easy to play thanks to our expert set up and will make studying the cello that much more enjoyable and responsive.

The length of the back is 651 mm.