Louis Thomassin (1856–1905) 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 ''

Archetier 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 ...

''. He learned his craft 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 ...

where he worked for the Bazin Family. In 1872 he went to

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 ...

to work for

François Nicolas Voirin François Nicolas Voirin (1833–1885) was a French archetier (Bow (music), bowmaker), known in his time as the "Modern François Tourte, Tourte." F.N. Voirin (the son of a gardener) was born in Paris, the brother of Joseph Voirin (also a talente ...

and carried on Voirin's shop after his death. He established his own workshop in Paris in 1891. His son and pupil,

Claude Claude may refer to: People and fictional characters * Claude (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Claude (surname), a list of people * Claude Callegari (1962–2021), English Arsenal supporter * Claude Debussy (1862–1918), ...

, also made fine bows in Paris, based on Voirin's model. Louis Thomassin's branded bows are of beautiful and of consistent quality. Unfortunately his production was not extensive.

References

* * * * Les Luthiers Parisiens aux XIX et XX siecles Tom 3 "Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume et sa famille -

Sylvette Milliot ''Sylvette'' is a large concrete sculpture created by Pablo Picasso and the Norwegian artist Carl Nesjar, which was erected in the city of Rotterdam in 1970. It is located on the corner of Westersingel next to the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. Th ...

2006 * * * Violins & Bows - Jost Thoene 2006 {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomassin, Louis 1856 births 1905 deaths Bow makers 19th-century French people Luthiers from Mirecourt