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DERAZEY, HONORE - Full name: Jean Joseph Honore. Born at Mirecourt, 1794. Died there 1883. Spent several years in various workshops at Paris. Ultimately established at Mirecourt. Gained Exhibition medals at Paris 1839, 1844 and 1855 also at London, 1862. Early instruments especially attractive in being substantially built all departments of modeling inspired by that of Stradivarius and others of the Italian school. Workmanship "a la finesse" in all verity. Scrolls always conducive to the dignity he continually visualized. Sound-holes not surpassed by any maker of any period or school for perfect grace of curve. Edges never very pronounced, frail, here again we see the essence of delicacy. Same deftness accentuates the squarishly designed corners. Enthusiasm of an ardent young man striving towards individuality plainly discernible on every instrument of this early period. Varnish (generally of an orange yellow shade) unfortunately the antithesis of elasticity and warmth. Some specimens have table wood of Carpathian pine- a material rather too brittle and strong in fibre to be ideal for tonal quality grain (a perfectly straight one) often wider towards the sides. Generally of very long Stradivarius pattern, very flat arching, and Maggini like shoulders. Of remarkably powerful tone, though perhaps rather blatant, but certainly not hard-and its sonority is becoming mellower. Nevertheless, we do not think it can ever reach the peculiar sensitiveness necessary to the enjoyment of soloists and their listeners. Seldom labelled. H D branded inside on the back and within a circle. Later set out to traverse the busy road of commercialism, and from the year 1844 his indefatigable activity resulted in the enormous production of about 600 violins yearly, for which he asked 5 to __ francs according to the different grades. Modelling altogether similar to that of the many Strad-Vuillaumes. Influence of Vuillaume also easily traced in the colour and style of applying the varnish-- colour generally reddish with a slight purplish tendency and rather hard-looking, applied and rubbed off here and there to give instruments an appearance of wear. Became enormously popular, particularly in England, and the name Derazey was on everybody's lips, No finer wrought commercial violins have ever come from Mirecourt undoubtedly their finished workmanship influenced the many other makers in that town to emulate his achievements. The particular point of interest in these violins is artistic combination of the sound-holes with the waist curves beautiful originality quite distinct from others of the Mirecourt school. Years after death, violins bearing his labels were poured into the trade, but these have been the productions successively of his son, then Mangenot, and finally Laberte-Magnie... Occasionally branded "H. Derezey pere". Some of the modern productions give his name as "H. Derasey".
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