Jérôme Thibouville-Lamy & Co. was Mirecourt’s largest manufacturer of musical instruments during the nineteenth century. The 1892 J. T. L. guitar in the Austin-Marie Collection is an example of the firm’s most ornate and expensive model. Although the guitar carries no maker’s label, the dealer’s label from Biarritz, France is visible through the soundhole.
| Specifications | |
| Date | 1892 |
| Location | Mirecourt, France |
| Length of Guitar | 875 mm |
| String Length | 581 mm |
| Upper Bout Width | 228 mm |
| Waist Width | 160 mm |
| Lower Bout Width | 280 mm |
| Side Depth at Waist | 78 mm |
| Soundboard: Spruce | Back: Brazilian rosewood | Sides: Brazilian rosewood | Details: The initials “NINI” and the date “1892” are masterfully inlaid on the soundboard in black mother-of-pearl | |
The entire neck and head of the 1892 J. T. L. guitar are inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting scenes of musical instruments and floral arrangements. The profuse spruce soundboard inlays are of abalone and mother-of-pearl flowers connected by stems and vines of ebony. The back and sides are made of rosewood with ivory bindings front and back. Similar in size to the 1890 J. T. L. in this collection, the 1892 is smaller and more ornate than the plain-looking modern-sized instruments being built in Spain at that time.
Curiously, the name “NINI” and the date “1892” are skillfully inlaid in black mother-of-pearl on the soundboard. It may be fanciful speculation, but one might wonder if NINI refers to French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s famous muse, Nini Lopez (1857–1944), the French actress known by her stage name, Henriette Henriot. Renoir’s talent as a portrait artist earned him prestigious commissions with the wealthy bourgeoisie. He painted many models with guitars, often with mother of pearl fingerboards, but Nini Lopez must have been a favorite as she appears in at least 12 of his paintings. Perhaps this guitar was a special gift from the artist to her? It is left to the imagination to decide.
