Hubert de Launay

After completing his training, Hubert gained valuable experience working with Guust François in Amsterdam, but the call of England continued to draw him. He continued his career in the London studios of John Dilworth, where the focus was on new construction, research, and expertise, and Michael Byrd, known for his large-scale restoration projects. At the same time, he worked as a freelancer for J & A Beare and shared his knowledge as a guest lecturer at West Dean College. In 2015, the opportunity arose to further refine the restoration skills he had already developed when he began working for Andreas Post in Amsterdam.

Throughout all these diverse work experiences, there was one recurring element: a deep-rooted fascination with early Dutch violin making. This interest, which first emerged during his studies in England, has evolved into an extensive, 15-year research project. This research into early Dutch violin makers has offered Hubert many unique opportunities and brought him into contact with musicians, professors, researchers, universities, research facilities, museums, and collectors around the world. In the Netherlands as well, he was granted unrestricted access to the collections of the Kunstmuseum and the Rijksmuseum.

Hubert’s great dedication to this research led to the establishment of the Hendrik Jacobs Foundation. This foundation is expanding the research internationally and is working on a long-awaited book with the goal of bringing this forgotten piece of Dutch heritage back into the spotlight and giving it the place it deserves within Dutch music culture, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage.

In 2019, Hubert decided to take the plunge and open his own studio so he could devote himself even more intensively to research, expertise, and new creations. At the heart of his new creations lies the reintroduction of the ancient, lost knowledge of the Dutch Masters, which he has rediscovered in recent years.