Poirson Elophe, violin, Lyon 1899
Elophe Poirson can certainly be classified as one of the most mysterious and debated French violin makers of the 19th and 20th Centuries. Since violinmaking was not his main job, he has always been regarded as an amateur maker. However, recent pioneering research has revealed that many similarities can be drawn between his work and life with other professional violinmakers of the time. Elophe Poirson, born on the 6th of September 1840, grew up in Landaville, in the North East of France. He came from a modest family of farmers. After serving in Napoléon’s army, Elophe started to work at the telegraph office of Lyon where he spent all his career. We don't know exactly how he got into violin making but a newspaper of the time says that one day he broke a violin by accident and immediately wanted to repair it! He would have been so fascinated by this instrument that he wanted to understand how it worked. However, his hobby became almost professional, and his quality of work was rewarded several times. For example, he won a bronze medal in 1889 at the Paris International Exhibition of 1889 and a silver medal in 1901 at an exhibition in Lyon for his instruments. Moreover, he was taken under the wing of violinist Martin Pierre Marsick. This musician wanted to bring to the fore the work of this "simple amateur maker". He did this for example by singing the praises of his protégé several times in the newspapers and, if some sources are to be believed, gave Elophe his Stradivari violin for restoration! On top of all this, Elophe Poirson was also a toolmaker. He created new tools to repair and restore string instruments, as well as a new model of chinrest for violins. All of his inventions were patented. We can't affirm today that Elophe Poirson made all of his instruments completely himself, and to confirm his status as a professional maker would be a mistake. But he was definitely a passionate innovator and multiple skilled man until the end of his life. He passed away at the age of 83, on the 17th of March 1924, in Lyon. Biography: Chann Cornillaud. Many thanks to Rebecca Smith for the help on the text.
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Poirson Elophe, violin, Lyon 1899
Elophe Poirson can certainly be classified as one of the most mysterious and debated French violin makers of the 19th and 20th Centuries. Since violinmaking was not his main job, he has always been regarded as an amateur maker. However, recent pioneering research has revealed that many similarities can be drawn between his work and life with other professional violinmakers of the time. Elophe Poirson, born on the 6th of September 1840, grew up in Landaville, in the North East of France. He came from a modest family of farmers. After serving in Napoléon’s army, Elophe started to work at the telegraph office of Lyon where he spent all his career. We don't know exactly how he got into violin making but a newspaper of the time says that one day he broke a violin by accident and immediately wanted to repair it! He would have been so fascinated by this instrument that he wanted to understand how it worked. However, his hobby became almost professional, and his quality of work was rewarded several times. For example, he won a bronze medal in 1889 at the Paris International Exhibition of 1889 and a silver medal in 1901 at an exhibition in Lyon for his instruments. Moreover, he was taken under the wing of violinist Martin Pierre Marsick. This musician wanted to bring to the fore the work of this "simple amateur maker". He did this for example by singing the praises of his protégé several times in the newspapers and, if some sources are to be believed, gave Elophe his Stradivari violin for restoration! On top of all this, Elophe Poirson was also a toolmaker. He created new tools to repair and restore string instruments, as well as a new model of chinrest for violins. All of his inventions were patented. We can't affirm today that Elophe Poirson made all of his instruments completely himself, and to confirm his status as a professional maker would be a mistake. But he was definitely a passionate innovator and multiple skilled man until the end of his life. He passed away at the age of 83, on the 17th of March 1924, in Lyon. Biography: Chann Cornillaud. Many thanks to Rebecca Smith for the help on the text.
