french cello bridges - any info on their development history?

[baroquecello]

I've been wondering about the history of the french cello bridge model. The belgian model seems to stem from english bridges that were made at the end of the 18th century (google "Forster bridge" if curious), however, I cannot seem to find any info on where and when the french bridge model was developed. I seem to draw a blank before the 20th century, and have been wondering if its popularity in the 20th century has to do with the development of the steel string. Really any information would be great!

[fiddlecollector]

well they existed in 1870`s at least. illustration from 1879`s french catalogue ,they sold two  types as far as i can tell . no 85 looks like a french one.

[jacobsaunders]

The 1870’s or thereabouts might well be the start of “French” model bridges being supplied by the industry/trade, however the Technical Museum in Vienna shows some cello bridges by 18^th C Viennese makers (Leidolf, Partl etc.) that are much the same

[baroquecello]

Thank you gentlemen, this is interesting information!

@fiddlecollector do you happen to know which catalogue that is? In my book, those three all register as french, because of the shape of the legs and the amount of wood in the upper half of the bridge. The heart is not that important, I think.

@jacobsaunders I found this supposedly Joseph Stadlmann made Steg in their online catalogue. I wonder how they attributed it to Stadlmann, but I'd probably have to ask them personally. I'd guess the attribution was made by Jaura.

[jacobsaunders]

11 minutes ago, baroquecello said:

 

@jacobsaunders I found this supposedly Joseph Stadlmann made Steg in their online catalogue. I wonder how they attributed it to Stadlmann, but I'd probably have to ask them personally. I'd guess the attribution was made by Jaura.

They have a collection from Jaura, I presume he took it of a Stadlmann Cello an noted that it was a Stadlmann bridge. Would you accept it as "French"?

[fiddlecollector]

3 hours ago, baroquecello said:

@fiddlecollector do you happen to know which catalogue that is? In my book, those three all register as french, because of the shape of the legs and the amount of wood in the upper half of the bridge. The heart is not that important, I think.

its the 1878 JTL catalogue https://www.luthiers-mirecourt.com/thibouville_1878.htm

[baroquecello]

1 hour ago, jacobsaunders said:

Would you accept it as "French"?

Well, of course, this still has a way to go, but it has comparatively short legs, so more wood in the upper half, and rather massive amount of wood on the kidney wings. So it has some characteristics that point in the direction. Some early British (Forster) bridges look rather similar, apart from the amount of wood on the kidney wings. There is a lot of overlap, I guess. They do form a clear departure from earlier models, and models like the Banks cello bridge.

[jacobsaunders]

20 minutes ago, baroquecello said:

Well, of course, this still has a way to go, but it has comparatively short legs, so more wood in the upper half, and rather massive amount of wood on the kidney wings. So it has some characteristics that point in the direction. Some early British (Forster) bridges look rather similar, apart from the amount of wood on the kidney wings. There is a lot of overlap, I guess. They do form a clear departure from earlier models, and models like the Banks cello bridge.

Although I cannot answer your original question, I think it would be difficult to define what an early “French” bridge looks like. If you say that the French have short legs and bloated kidneys, you would be in danger of being called a racist. I think one will also have to acknowledge that violin making in the 18thC. was a craft, and only became an industry, where firms like Pfretschner or Tiddle Lamy were manufacturing bridge blanks in the mid 19^th C. I agree that it seems strange that the choice today seems to be French or Belgian, and basically nothing else