I did a comparison between these two young figs, each two years old. I got these cuttings from a kind member of the forum (sorry I forgot exactly who). They were both in a heated shed last winter.

 

As  you can see, the leaves are very different on the two and the VdB fruit is smaller. This is typical of each plant.
And
   
Inside they look the same, and they taste the same. Both were very good, with perhaps a slight edge to the Negronne, but it may have been a day riper than the other.

Also, the Negronne was earlier, this is the 4th or 5th fruit I have picked, whereas the VdB is the first one to ripen.

Great comparison Gene!
My negronne looks similar to yours but is not ripe yet.  I was starting to worry that it looks too similar to black mission.
Do you have more negronne photos of the leaves and green figlets?
Thanks

I have Negronne and VDB and I am wondering on mine, if they are the same? They really seem to be!

Looks like I may get to taste both this year too.  Looking forward to comparing them, just as you did.

I own a Negronne from the Pierre Baud strain.
The leaves look like the left one and no one like the VdB.

Plus the Negronne has always some round, unlobed leaves. This is a good indication to nail Negronne.

What is the UC DAVIS strain?

I am happy i could help Vinny.

This i what the french Negronne looks like:

Are VdB and Negronne the same fig, perhaps both yes and no. It would seem that there maybe several similar cultivars that share various synonyms. Several reputable on-line nurseries sell the same fig listing both names. These two figs have apparently be the subject of controversy for years. Condit in his writings of figs (starting pg 424) had given two or three pages discussing the confusion associated the these cultivars. Here's a couple of quotes from Condit,
"Barron (1891) regarded Negronne to be the same as Violette de Bordeaux. Eisen
believed that the two were not identical, but very similar, except for the smaller leaves
of the latter. Bunyard (1925) agreed with Eisen, and stated that Violette de Bordeaux
resembled Negronne, but was a distinct variety. In regard to the stalk of Negronne,
Eisen reported, “stalk and part of neck bent over and rising in a curve upward, where
the fig hangs down.” This unique character is difficult to describe, but Eisen’s statement
confirms the opinion that Violette de Bordeaux of our collection is the same as
Negronne of early authors. As grown at Riverside, however, Bordeaux does not show
the green color persisting on the neck or base of the mature fruit, which Duhamel
(1768) found characteristic of the variety in France."

"Negronne was introduced into California from England as P.I. No. 18,839 of the
Chiswick collection. At Niles, Chico, and Fresno it proved to be identical with Violette
de Bordeaux, which was obtained in 1921 from the collection of Leroy Nickel at Menlo
Park."

What makes me wonder is that i have never seen or heard of a VdB over here in Germany.
You can find Negronne yes...

Also Baud listed the Negronne not with the syn. VdB.

The website decription say to Negronne:

"Synonymes : Figue de Bordeaux, Figue Poire, Petite Ambique."

Also, how does both Negronne/VDB compare with Petite Negra (or Negri)?
Somewhere in my early fig life; I had come to the conclusion that all three are (somewhat?) the same fig-thing!

SEE:
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/violet-de-bordeaux-vs-petite-negra-fig-6603395

Interesting post: thanks for sharing. I was under the impression that both were the same and that they even get labeled as both often times. I think this action tends to make things a bit confusing for everyone and for identifying the characteristics of each.

I would also like to see this 2 figs compared to Nero 600m, as it is often compared to VDB.  any opinions on that?

HA!  This is another one of those questions that pop up every year or so.  There are many figs that folks think are the same and nursery web sites don't help.  If you call the nursery, they will only tell you what they sell and nothing more.    However, it is good to grow these side by side.  Over the years, what I've learned is every body has their own opinion if a fig is the same as another fig.  Who is right?  We all are!  Here is mine.....

I have the following figs growing side by side either in the ground or in whiskey barrels....

1.  Negronne OGW
2.  Violet de Bordeaux EL
3.  Petite Negri or Petite Negra EL
4.  Vern's Brown Turkey RR
5.  Aubique Petite 
6.  Nero 600m VS

All 6 of these figs listed above have similar left patterns.  To me, all 6 are different.  I do think they are related but not the same.  All 6 have different qualities.  For instance.....

Aubique Petite, ripen a little late for me but it holds up against the rain better that any.  Does not die back.  One of my favorites.

VdB dies back to the ground yearly--but comes back with figs on consistently.  Will sour in rain.  Not my favorite

Negronne ripens earlier than any. Is a medium size fig. Figs are jet black!  Does not die back. Taste is amazing!

Petite Negri is a true drawf tree.  It's not that hardy and the figs are larger than all of these.  Taste is ok.

Vern's BT ripens late.  Figs are small to medium and rich tasting.  Tight eye--will not sour in the rain. One of my favorites.

Nero 600m -- new addition and not fruited for me yet.

I'm sure others will disagree with my results and that's ok.  What I've listed are results of growing these figs the past 10 years in Charlotte.

Dennis, What is the source of your Negronne? Thank you.

I believe OGW stands for One Green World.

https://www.onegreenworld.com/product.php?id=512

Yes, OGW stands for One Green World. It and my Atreano are some of my oldest fig trees. They use to stand over 7 feet tall. The 2 bad years of 5 degree temps hurt them bad. I mean real bad!! They're coming back to original height but slowly.

Thank you. I am trying to find someone who is growing Negronne from Burnt Ridge Nursery.

I got Petite Negri from reads nursery and I have put an order for Negronne from P Baud's nursery. I am still looking for VDB and hopefully one day I can compare all three. Great work and thanks for detailed explanation Dennis