Jean Adam (1823–1869) was a (third generation) Master French bow maker known as "Grand Adam" (not to be confused with his grandfather also named Jean Adam). His bows are highly sought after. Jean was born in Mirecourt on 26 February 1823. Grand Adam served his apprenticeship and continued to work under his father,

Jean Dominique Adam Jean Dominique Adam (29 December 17956 October 1842) was an illustrious French Archetier / Bowmaker. Early life and education Jean Dominique was born in Mirecourt, the son of Jean Adam (b.1767; d. 1849) who started three generations of bowmaker ...

(1795–1864) until 1842 when he went to Paris to work for

Jean Baptiste Vuillaume Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (7 October 1798 – 19 March 1875) was a French luthier, businessman, inventor and winner of many awards. His workshop made over 3,000 instruments. Early life Vuillaume was born in Mirecourt, where his father and gra ...

. For the most part, "he was inspired by his father and also perhaps by

Joseph Fonclause Joseph Fonclause (Claude Joseph 'le Mayeux' Fonclauze) (1799–1862) was a French archetier/bow maker. Went to Paris to work for Lupot, Tourte and Vuillaume. From 1840 he worked alone. Most of his bows are stamped. Early in his career, he f ...

." Paris played an integral part in his development as a master craftsman. At the height of his promising career, he decided to return to Mirecourt in 1853 where he set up his own shop and produced a great number of bows. His bows show a very individual style. He lived a short life, dying at age 46 on 20 January 1869 "

François Tourte François Xavier Tourte (1747 – 25 April 1835) was a French bow maker who made a number of significant contributions to the development of the bow of stringed instruments, and is considered to be the most important figure in the development of ...

possessed not only the ingenuity to bring the bow to perfection, but also the skill to make bows of unsurpassed quality which are still sought after by players and emulated by makers." "Both Jean Dominique and his son "Grand" Adam seemed to favor

's design (octagonal sticks) and thus produced a great many octagonal bows."
Gennady Filimonov
".....one of the top mid-19th century French Master Bow Makers whose bows are highly sought after." - Gennady Filimonov
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References

* * * * Dictionnaire Universel del Luthiers - Rene Vannes 1951,1972, 1985 (vol.3) *

Universal Dictionary of Violin & Bow Makers The ''Universal Dictionary of Violin & Bow Makers'' is a widely cited reference work providing information on approximately 9,000 violin makers. The work is based on the extensive notes of violinist and composer William Henley (1874-1957). Henley ...

- William Henley 1970 1823 births 1869 deaths Bow makers 19th-century French people Luthiers from Mirecourt {{France-music-bio-stub