Blanchard Fake?

[nmh1]

I bought a cello a couple years back labeled as a Blanchard from 1897. The label reads "Fait dans l'Atlier De P.Blanchard Lyon 1897", which some people say is a fake label. There is also a lot of very sloppy glue work on the cello; beneath the fingerboard there are glue marks and it looks as if there was a very poor neck reset job done, along with some poor varnish application in areas. The place I bought it from went out of business about a month after I bought this cello and I'm thinking that I was ripped off big time, but after two years of using the cello, I personally feel that it sounds very nice (maybe nice enough to match the amount I bought it for...hopefully...)

So basically, what I'd like to try to know/find out is if I'm playing on a cheap knock-off that actually doesn't sound horrible or if I'm playing on an instrument that is actually worth something (at least what I bought it for). I don't really know what to look for to help me in finding out more about my instrument and was hoping I could get some suggestions. 

Edited October 16, 2019 by nmh1

[Wood Butcher]

Clear photos of the whole instrument will be needed, no one can tell anything about something they can't see.
Rue wrote a guide for taking photos which you might find helpful :  https://maestronet.com/forum/index.php?/topic/333119-how-to-photograph-an-instrument-for-identifcation-purposes/

Did you buy it as a cello made by Blanchard, or a cello from the Blanchard workshop (not made by Blanchard himself), or supplied by Blanchard (bought in from another workshop, and labelled)? There will be a big difference.

You can also look yourself for pictures at good auction sites, such as Tarisio, and see if there is any resemblance to the photos there.

[Wood Butcher]

No update or pictures yet?

[MarkBouquet]

nmh1 is a new member, with all the constraints that brings. Give them a chance.

[Wood Butcher]

3 minutes ago, MarkBouquet said:

nmh1 is a new member, with all the constraints that brings. Give them a chance.

Yes, good point.

 

[The Violin Beautiful]

Did you get a certificate with it from an established expert?

[Andreas Preuss]

With or without pictures the label says it was made in the atelier which indicates that the instrument was probably made in Mirecourt and only finished and set up in Blanchards workshop. Photos will clarify this.

[uguntde]

A Blanchard is very hard to fake because his workmanship was quite exquisit. If it is a fake it is easy to identify as such. Glue marks could only be from a bad repair. The difference in price tag of a Blanchard and a fake is at least a factor of 10. Whether there were others in Blanchard's workshop who made instruments and used such a label I don't know.

[martin swan]

9 minutes ago, uguntde said:

A Blanchard is very hard to fake because his workmanship was quite exquisit. If it is a fake it is easy to identify as such. Glue marks could only be from a bad repair. The difference in price tag of a Blanchard and a fake is at least a factor of 10. Whether there were others in Blanchard's workshop who made instruments and used such a label I don't know.

Emile Boulangeot worked for Blanchard.

but “fait dans l’atelier de ...” is always code for a Mirecourt instrument, possibly finished and varnished in the maker’s workshop

”fait sous la direction de ... “ is a similar euphemism