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The first mention of CABASSE in violin literature was made by Albert JACQUOT  in his book "La Lutherie Lorraine et Française" which was published in 1912. JACQUOT belonged to a family of MIRECOURT violin makers well-established since the beginning of the 19th century.

According to René VANNES a violin maker called Prospère CABASSE, born in MIRECOURT toward the end of the 18th century, was working by the first part of the 19 th century in this same city. His work, quite typical of the period, is described as high-arching models coated with a beige-brown varnish and bearing a triangular stamp. Stamps of this period in MIRECOURT indicated the name of the maker and "A PARIS" as a guarantee of quality.

The viola presented in the Archives Gallery corresponds to the work and style of CABASSE's period in MIRECOURT, but bears a stamp that reads "CABASSE" only. The arching is quite low and the "moustache", or the dark hue of varnish between the FF holes, although quite common in this period of MIRECOURT production, is largely exaggerated on this instrument.

If we believe William Henley, the name CABASSE has been used as a trademark to stamp production series inspired by the original CABASSE models. This has been quite a common production behavior in MIRECOURT throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

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