What do the Diplome d'Honneur and Grand Prix Paris credentials on this violin mean?

[sospiri]

2 minutes ago, martin swan said:

Interesting that both have very visible compass marks on the inner back ...

Why do some makers do that? It's completely effing stupid.

[Filipe Veríssimo]

5 hours ago, sospiri said:

Why do some makers do that? It's completely effing stupid.

Not sure about its purpuse, maybe as a reference to set the soundpost vertical.

The center is also marked in the top (see photo), It helps to keep the bridge in place!

I've been searching who signed the bridge but I can't find anything, can you help? It's something like: J PH…...VILLE LT

 

[sospiri]

21 hours ago, Filipe Veríssimo said:

Not sure about its purpuse, maybe as a reference to set the soundpost vertical.

The center is also marked in the top (see photo), It helps to keep the bridge in place!

I've been searching who signed the bridge but I can't find anything, can you help? It's something like: J PH…...VILLE LT

I don't know the purpose either. Someone tried to explain it to me once, but it made no sense. You have two scratched circles around a small hole in the inside of the violin, what purpose can that serve?

The name on the bridge? J PH. Jean Philippe??

[martin swan]

On 3/13/2019 at 11:53 AM, sospiri said:

Why do some makers do that? It's completely effing stupid.

Yup, it's like the central pin on Cremonese violins, what the f*** is that all about 

[sospiri]

15 minutes ago, martin swan said:

Yup, it's like the central pin on Cremonese violins, what the f*** is that all about 

No idea, but some say it is perhaps evidence of a link between Nicolo Amati and Jacob Stainer?

I just don't like those scribed circles and holes. I like smooth clean lines and surfaces inside the instrument.