Marseille Violin Makers

History of the Company

It is the oldest violin-making house in Marseille, and one of the oldest in France because it was founded in 1877.
The founders, Barbet and Granier set up their workshop at 14, rue Paradis, near the Opera. It prospered, then Barbet retired, and the workshop was taken over by Edmond Granier and his sons.
Pierre Claudot, a violin maker from Mirecourt, Vosges, the capital of French violin making, descended from a large family of violin makers, took over the workshop where he had been employed for nine years in 1937.
He handed over his workshop to Philippe Bodart in 1972, to retire.
This workshop was bought in 1981 by Charles-Luc HOMMEL, and after working for nearly twenty years at this address, the decision to move was made.
The current address is 27, rue Francis DAVSO 13001 MARSEILLE. The premises are larger and better adapted, and are located in the same district near the Opera just opposite the workshop that was occupied in the last century by Justin and Paul Diter and then Paul Lorange.
Since 2012, to ensure the sustainability of this workshop, the artisanal structure has been modified into an SARL with Camille HOMMEL who took over the management.
Collaborating in the life of the workshop, (assistants and trainees): Philippe Raynaud, Laurent Perreau, Dominique Deschamps, Christophe Destannes, Jean-Pascal Nehr (bow maker), Rémi Lancien, Hélène Guichard, Claudia Höbel, Eric Pesty, Alexandra Apenberg, Antoine Leducq, Nicolas Gilles, Arnaud Vaissier, Benoit Germain and Anne-Walda Gratia.
Currently Elsa LALLEMAND, Lolita CURTOL and Mylène BARBAROUX are the assistants.

Camille HOMMEL

Expert at the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence

Began playing the violin at a very early age. In 1998, after studying music at the Conservatoire National à Rayonnement Régional Pierre Barbizet de Marseille (Regional Conservatory for Music and Dance) and graduating from high school (Lycée Thiers, Marseille) with an economics baccalauréat, began a three-year apprenticeship as a violin maker with Jean-Jacques Pagès, in Mirecourt, Vosges, France. Obtained a diploma awarded by the l'Ecole Nationale de Lutherie (National School of Violin Making) at the Lycée Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, Mirecourt in 2001.

Perfected his skills in restoration, repair and expertise in his father's workshop in Marseille, and completed internships in different workshops, Maison Bernard in Brussels and Maison Vatelot-Rampal in Paris.
Took part in events, competitions in Manchester, the VSA in the United States, cellos in the Seine, friends of the Viola, and exhibitions, Musicora, La Bellevilloise in Paris, Mondomusica in New York, and a Road Show in the United States.
He is a member of the Violin Society of America and Aladfi, the association of violin and bow makers for the development of instrument making. He regularly takes part in training courses and exchanges, such as the Oberlin workshop in the United States.
For several years he has devoted himself to making very high-quality concert violins, violas and cellos.

Charles-Luc HOMMEL

Honorary expert at the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence

First contact with music at a very early age. Began learning the violin at 8½ years old and studied violin at the Colmar Conservatory of Music for eleven years.

After a bac C, training as a luthier through apprenticeship with René Morizot, Master Luthier in Mirecourt (Vosges) from 1973 to 1976.
CAP in luthier in 1976.
Assistant with Philippe Bodart in Marseille (1976-1978 and 1979-1981), and Etienne Vatelot in Paris from 1978 to 1979.
Installation at 14, rue Paradis, 13001 MARSEILLE in 1981 and move to 27, rue Francis Davso 13001 MARSEILLE in 2001.
Member of the International Agreement of Master Luthiers and Bow Makers, and of the Association of Luthiers and Bow Makers of Art of France, Master Art Luthier.