A French Violin by Nicolas Lupot, Paris circa 1810. Photo Bonhams.

Labelled Nicolas Lupot Luthier rue de Grammont a Paris l'an ..10 Length of back 355mm (14in) the lightly craquelled red varnish of quality on a golden yellow ground, of great tactile appeal, bold, Napoleonic lutherie after Stradivari. (1). Estimate £80,000 - 120,000 (€98,000 - 150,000)

Offered with the Tree-Ring Analysis Report No., B69 of Mr.John Topham, Surrey, dated 18 March 2014 stating the dates for the bass and treble sides of the table are 1785 and 1776 respectively, also noting in the text and by graph (3) a very significant treble side cross-match with another Lupot Violin suggesting both treble sides came from the same tree;

" As shown in Table 1 the sequence length, average tree ring width and date of ISQD3845 (the other Lupot Violin )is similar to the sequence length, average tree ring width and date of the treble side of the (Bonham's) violin under study suggesting the pieces came from the same tree (See Graph 3)."

See a similar Paris 1810 Nicolas Lupot Violin illustrated in the NYC 1966 S.F.Sacconi Loan Exhibition Catalogue.

Bonhams. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. London, Knightsbridge. 12 May 2014 - http://www.bonhams.com/