Amédée Dominique Dieudonné

Amédée Dieudonné was one of the most influential and talented French violin makers of the 20th century. Trained between Mirecourt, Brussels, and Paris, he was widely recognized for the quality of his instruments as well as for his role in training many craftsmen. Coming from a family of luthiers, he learned the trade in his teens under Gustave Bazin. After several years of training, he continued his career working in different workshops, notably in Brussels with Darche, then in Paris where he spent time in the workshop of Germain before returning to Belgium. In the early 1920s, he settled in Mirecourt, where he opened his own workshop. The business operated with a small team of a few workers and apprentices. He placed great importance on passing on technical know-how and trained many apprentices throughout his career, several of whom later became well-known luthiers. Among those who passed through his workshop were René Bazin, Charles Claudot, Pierre Claudot, Édouard Cristofaro, Jean Eulry, Eugène Guinot, Michel Lotte, Eugène Maucotel, Jean Striebig, Marcel Thomassin, and Marcel Voirin. Other luthiers, such as Étienne Vatelot, Bernard Millant, René Quenoil, Bill Moennig, and René Morel, also completed part of their training there.