[Eric Hochberg]

Did a little sleuthing on the label and found this regarding a violin for sale on the Wichita Band site:

A SUPERB FRENCH VIOLIN BY THEODORE HUSSON, CIRCA 1890. A recent acquisition to our collection, this particular instrument has come to us in virtually pristine original condition. The label reads “Medailles d’or & d’argent, E. BONNEL, luthier, Rennes”.
Made during the period that Theodore Husson was working for Bonnel’s shop in Rennes, our violin is signed on the upper inside table by the name of the maker. The brandstamp of the maker is just under the tailpiece button, but is nearly illegible. Our violin has a two-piece back of broad Vosges mountains maple and the one-piece top is of of narrow grained spruce. The varnish is the typical French red-brown that is usually associated with the best Paris luthiers.

The “Universal Dictionary of Violin and Bow Makers” by William Henley gives the maker quite a good report: “HUSSON, Theodore. Born 1858. Pupil of Mougenot. Associated with Bonnel at Rennes, 1887. Died 1907. Made 100 violins and 10 ‘cellos----nearly all having the label of Bonnel. Splendid modelling and refined workmanship. Yellow red varnish.“ and:

“BONNEL, Emile. Established at Rennes, 1860-1899. Fine flat modelling after Stradivarian style. Particularly handsome wood for slab backs. Lustrous red varnish. Fine full tone...”

The “Dictionnaire Universel des Luthiers” of Rene Vannes also gives the shop a glowing report: “HUSSON, Theodore. Ne a Mirecourt en 1858. Eleve de Mougenot et plus tard, son premier ouvrier. Le 14-3-1887, il fut appele par Emile Bonnel de Rennes comme premier ouvrier egalement. A la mort de son patron, il prit la direction de l’atelier pour la Veuve Bossard, l’associee de Bonnel. Il mourut a la tache, le 13-10-1907 apres avoir, pour une grande part contribue au succes et a la fortune de cette maison. Une centaine de violons, 10 cellos et 2 altos portant l’etiquette Bonnel, sont sortis de ses mains. Tres peu d’instruments sont signes Th. Husson. Belle lutherie d’apres les models italiens, vernis jaune rouge.” and: “BONNEL, Emile. Fils et eleve de Joseph Bonnel. Ne a Domvallier (Vosges) en 1835; reprit en 1879 la maison de son pere qui avait ete vendue deux ans auparavant. Il eut son neveu Bossard comme associe et la maison passa sous la raison sociale: Bonnel et Neveu. A la mort de Ch. Claudot, san 1er. ouvrier (1887) il fait appel a Th. Husson. Emile B. mourut a Rennes le 17-7-1891. Son neveu lui succede, mais ce dernier mourut 5 ans plus tard; sa femme prend la succession en 1907 aven son fils Marius Bossard. Bonne lutherie tres estimee. La plupart de ses instrumetns furent contruits par son premier ouvrier Husson.”

Google Translation

Do a (born in) Mirecourt in 1858. A pupil of Mougenot and later its first worker. On 14-3-1887, he was called by Emile Bonnel of Rennes first worker also. On the death of his boss, he became director of the workshop for the Widow Bossard, the associated Bonnel. He died at the spot, on 13-10-1907 after having, in large part contributed to the success and fortune of this house. One hundred violins, cellos and two violas 10 bearing the label Bonnel, got out of his hands. Very few instruments are signs Th Husson. Beautiful violin after the models of Italian red yellow varnish. "And:" Bonnel, Emile. Son and pupil of Joseph Bonnel. Do a DOMVALLIER (Vosges) in 1835 continued in 1879 the house of his father who had been sold two years ago. It was his nephew Bossard as associates and the house went under the name: Bonnel and Neveu. On the death of Ch Claudot, san 1. Workers (1887) he uses a Th Husson. Emile B. died at Rennes on 17-7-1891. His nephew succeeds him, but he died five years later, his wife took over in 1907 his son Marius adventure Bossard. Very good violin estimated. Most of his instrumetns were constructed by the first worker Husson. "