About us
After several years of practice in Europe, notably under the guidance of Stepan Soultanian, I moved to Strasbourg in 2017. It was here that I set up my first lutherie workshop, in what was then just the living room of my apartment.
In 2019, I founded the SARL Guillaume KESSLER - Lutherie d'Art, which already contained the premises of what is happening today. However, in 2024, surrounded by five international collaborators, I began to separate the activities of the Lutherie d'Art workshops in Strasbourg from those of Guillaume KESSLER - Lutherie d'Art.
Now recently relocated in the heart of Alsace's old town, a stone's throw from the opera house and cathedral, I continue to work with international musicians and players in the violin world.
Why Lutherie d'Art?
Une des question qui apparaît lorsque quelqu’un voit le nom de mon entreprise ou de mon site, c’est : « Qu’est-ce que Lutherie d’Art, n’est-ce pas un peu pompeux ? »
So first of all, before going any further, Lutherie is not a place, but a discipline, even if the word is often abused, as I try to explain in this article.
Secondly, in Lutherie d'Art, which I've added to my company name, there's no question of me taking myself for an artist or putting my work down as something it isn't, because in the final analysis, I'm just a craftsman. However, our crafts are still listed as "métiers d'art" by the Institut des savoir-faire français.
However, the artistic dimension embodied by our know-how lies in the preservation of the know-how and heritage that engages us on a daily basis, the absorption and understanding of ancient skills, which are transmitted verbally, gesturally, sometimes in writing, but above all by the obvious vectors that we constantly have on our workbenches: instruments.
So, the true artists who take our instruments on stage are at the service of the major art that is Music, and we are at the service of this art, using our tools and knowledge.
So when I hear Lutherie d'Art, I see all the artistic potential of which I and my collaborators are the catalysts, without really taking part in it, yet inseparable from it.
En d’autres termes, beaucoup d’ateliers utilisent les termes « violons rares, fins, d’exception etc… » pour ma part, je préfère utiliser le terme Lutherie d’Art, qui englobe à la fois la lutherie et l’archèterie auquel j’ai ajouté le terme « Art » qui est une alternative aux descriptifs précédemment cités.
My Missions :
My missions are simple:
- Advise and provide musicians with the best tools to develop their musical and performance potential.
- To promote the high level of expertise in violin and bow making among musicians and the general public.
- Accumulate and pass on our heritage and know-how to new generations.
Biography of archetier
Born in Strasbourg, Guillaume Kessler has always had a passion for music and stringed instruments. After graduating from the Newark School of Violin Making in England, he embarked on a rich and varied career in the field.
Beginnings and specialization
Guillaume a commencé son parcours en se concentrant principalement sur le quatuor à cordes, développant une habileté dans la fabrication et la réparation de ces instruments. Cependant, c’est la création de son atelier « Lutherie d’Art » à Strasbourg et son développement qui l’a progressivement orienté vers une spécialisation dans les archets.
Collaboration and Learning
It was alongside his friend Florian Bailly, with whom he studied in Newark, that Guillaume deepened his knowledge of bow maintenance and repair. Together, they explored the French method of bow making, a technique Florian himself had learned from Noel Burke. This collaboration allowed Guillaume to immerse himself in a rich tradition of craftsmanship, inherited from the master bow makers of the Ouchard family and of Mirecourt.
A passion for Belle Époque bow making
Today, Guillaume is passionate about reviving the bowmaking of the Belle Époque. He draws inspiration from the masters of the 1900s(Sartory, Lamy, Voirin...) to create modern bows that combine stability, comfort and energy. These bows, he believes, offer today's musicians the best tools for achieving exceptional performance, responding to the demands of their art in today's delicate context.
Les Ateliers Lutherie d'Art
Since 2024, they have taken over, notably for the online store and study instruments.
The adventure of lutherie with you
Closer to you
Originally, I was a recluse in my Alsatian studio in Strasbourg, and I set up this website on which I tackled the subjects of your daily life as a musician and how we could find solutions together.
The years have gone by, and thanks to you and lutherie, I've been able to embark on many incredible adventures around the world:
- A large part of Europe
- The United States
- Guadeloupe
- South Korea
- Quebec
- China
- Japan
- And more, I hope!
More moments to share in the luthier's journal.
