Claude Auguste Thomassin (Born August 7, 1865 Mirecourt - Died July 29, 1942 Tribaldou) was a French

bow maker A bow maker is a person who builds, repairs, and restores antique or modern Bow (music), bows for bowed string instruments. These include violins, violas, cellos, double basses, viola d'amore, viola da gamba, etc. The French word for bowmaker (b ...

, or '. Son of Théophile Thomassin (saddle maker) and of Auguste Joséphine Bellaire, he serve his apprenticeship with C. N. Bazin in

Mirecourt Mirecourt () is a Communes of France, commune in the Vosges (French department), Vosges Departments of France, department in Grand Est in northeastern France. Mirecourt is known for lace-making and the manufacture of musical instruments, particula ...

. In his early career, he worked for the shop of Gand & Bernadel. Many bows from this period are stamped "Gand & Bernadel". In 1901 the family firm of Gand & Bernadel was taken over by

Caressa & Français Caressa & Français was a distinguished firm in Paris that specialized in fine musical instruments and bows. It was founded in 1901 by Albert Caressa and Henri Français, both of whom had worked for Gand-Bernardel of Paris (founded in 1866), wh ...

. It was at this point that Claude Thomassin set up his own atelier at 37 Rue de Paradis in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. Although he continued to produce some bows for his former employers, much of his output from 1901 onwards was branded with his name "Claude Thomassin" or sometimes "C.Thomassin à Paris". He was Louis Thomassin first Cousin and not his son as many books incorrectly report. Claude Thomassin has been called one of the best makers of his generation. "C. Thomassin's work is highly prized and respected for playability and beautiful workmanship" – Filimonov Fine Violins

References

* * * * ''Les Luthiers Parisiens aux XIX et XX siecles'', vol. 3, "

Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (; 7 October 1798 – 19 March 1875) was a French luthier, businessman, inventor and winner of many awards. He was one of the finest French luthiers of the 19th century and a key figure in the world of violin making. ...

et sa famille", Sylvette Milliot 2006 * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomassin, Claude 1865 births 1942 deaths Place of birth missing Place of death missing Bow makers 19th-century French people Luthiers from Mirecourt