Pierre Silvestre (1801-1859) was born in Sommerviller and was the first luthier of the Silvestre family. A student of Charles-Francois Gand, Silvestre worked in the tradition of the Lupot violin making system. In 1829 he established his own luthier shop in Lyon, and in 1831teamed up with his younger brother Hippolyte Silvestre (1808-1879), until 1848 when he began to work independently again. Pierre Silvestre plays a significant role in the modern history of the Lyon school of violin making, while at the same time he continues to work in the tradition established by the Lupot system of violin making.
Compared to the period when he worked with his brother Hippolyte, Pierre Silvestre made instruments of superior quality when he worked independently. Influenced by Lupot, Silvestre preferred using Stradivari as his model and made instruments that faithfully presented the Stradivari style. He also made instruments according to the Guarneri model (imitation of the sound holes), but with a longer body and a more prominent curve along the upper ribs. He also made imitations of Amati instruments, but with a slightly larger body.
Silvestre’s instruments are described as having a stable quality and a clear, even, resonant timbre. Although Silvestre tended towards the Stradivari style, he made some innovations in terms of the exterior and the arching of the body, especially by using wide upper ribs and a wider contour at the waist. The degree of arching was impeccable and the edges were modified and decorated with refined craftsmanship.
Silvestre’s carvings on the scroll are elegant, with every curve and turn showing his artistic sensibility. The rim below the scroll functions to successfully block out uneven sounds. The purfling is simple but refined, while the design of the sound holes is elegant and beautiful. Silvestre insisted on using good quality wood, selecting for the front plate lumber showing striped wood grains, while using beautiful wood that could be more easily acquired for the ribs and the back. Most of his instruments are coated with a light red varnish, and produce an even, clear, and sonorous timbre.
Pierre Silvestre not only made violins, but also a small number of violas, cellos and double basses. His cellos were also made in the style of Stradivari, coated with a majestic red varnish.
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