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Louis Emile Jerome Thibouville

Biographies

John Dilworth Willibald Leo Lütgendorff

John Dilworth

THIBOUVILLE, Louis Emile Jérôme Born 1833 Mouttes, died 1902 Mirecourt France. Descended from a long family line of woodwind and brass instrument makers in La Couture Boussey. Worked in Mirecourt and Paris as an entrepreneur and business man, bringing together the Mirecourt companies of Husson and Buthod under the name Husson-Buthod-Thibouville in 1857. After his marriage to Marguerite Hyacinthe Lamy, a cousin of both Charles-Claude Husson and Charles Buthod in 1861, the company became ‘Jérôme Thibouville-Lamy’ (or ‘J.T.L.’). This highly successful business brought the workshops of Mirecourt together to produce instruments of various grades but consistent quality where workmen came from many ateliers across Europe to perfect their skills. From 1870 bow making was directed by J. Martin. Names of all the great classical masters were given to the great variety of violins, violas, cellos, and basses in grades referred to as ‘Médio-Fino’ or ‘Compagnon’. Exhibited in Vienna in 1873 and won many medals and awards elsewhere. Thibouville himself made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1877. In 1889 Alexandre Alfred Acoulon joined the firm, becoming the sole head from 1896-1908. Joined by H. E. Blondelet and Alfred Etienne Acoulon (son of Alexandre Alfred); these three took charge until the early death of Blondelet in 1928. The company continues into the 21st century: in France up to the death of its last director André Chevrier in 1968 and thereafter in England as instrument wholesalers and suppliers to luthiers, now based in Essex, UK. Branded internally: ‘Thibouville-Lamy, T & L’ Thibouville-Lamy 70 rue Réaumur Paris 1886 D’après Stradivarius / J.Thibouville-Lamy