The 1840s marked the beginning of the history of the great Bazin bow-making family in Mirecourt, artisans who were active for four generations and shaped French bow making for more than a century. True masters of their art, the turbulent history of their era left its mark on their lives.
Francois Xavier Bazin was one of the first of this great family of French bow makers. He trained in Mirecourt and is thought to have served an arenticeship with Dominique Peccatte in Paris before returning home to establish his own busine in the 1840s. His son, Charles Nicolas, followed in his footste and developed the busine, employing as many as 17 makers at one time. Charles Nicolas\'s youngest son, Charles Louis, then took over, paing the busine to his own son, Charles Alfred, in the 1950s.
BAZIN Family
Jean Joseph BAZIN
Jean Joseph BAZIN(F-1754 / 1808)
Eustache-Joseph BAZIN I (F-1785 / 1863)
François BAZIN (F-1802 / 1867)
Eustache-Joseph BAZIN II(F-1823 / 1864)
A. Born and died in Mirecourt. Cousin of François-Xavier. Not to be confused with Joseph-Eustache, father of François Xavier (1785/1863), who was not a maker of instruments nor bows.
François-Xavier BAZIN (F-1824 / 1865)
A. Brother of Charles-Nicolas Bazin I, and father of Charles-Nicolas Bazin II. Probably formed by Dominique Peccatte in Paris, then established himself in Mirecourt around 1840. A catalogue of Louis Bazin Son mentions him "Manufacture d\'Archets de violons - Maison fondée en 1840".
Charles-Nicolas BAZIN I (F-1831 / 1908)
A. Brother of François-Xavier BAZIN
Charles-Nicolas BAZIN II, called Charles Bazin fils (F-1847 / 1915)
A. Son of François-Xavier, who formed with him (1859), and who was succeeded by him (in 1865). His bows are in great demand. He worked for Nestor Audinot, Charles Brugère, Joseph & Pierre Hel, Georges Chanot, Charles Peccatte… He was a member of the Conseil municipal de Mirecourt (his town of birth). Had 3 sons : Emile, Gustave et Charles-Louis。
Emile Joseph BAZIN (F-1868 / 1956)
A. Born and died in Mirecourt. Son of Charles-Nicolas Bazin II. First a bowmaker, then a professor of music (1894).
Gustave BAZIN (F-1871 / 1920)
L. A. Son of Charles-Nicolas Bazin II. Starts off as a bowmaker (working for Collin-Mézin atParis from 1888 to 1891), then moved on to instruments making (Settling in Mirecourt, his home town). Gold Medal at the Rochelle (1898).
Charles Louis BAZIN, called Louis Bazin fils (F-1881 / 1953)
A. Son, pupil and successor (in 1907) of Charles-Nicolas Bazin II. Louis Bazin took over form his father Charles-Nicolas (to whom he had apprenticed at the age of 12) in 1915. Many bowmakers worked with him (Granier, Lorange, Tournier, Delprato, Lapierre, Ouchard, Jacquemin, Dumont, Couturieux, Richaume, Bourgeois, Bontemps, Husson…). Stamped his bows "Louis Bazin". Had 2 sons : René and Charles-Alfred.
René BAZIN (F-1906 / 1982)
L. A. Son and pupil of Charles-Louis (for bow making), pupil of Dieudonné (for instrument making). Worked with Marcel Vatelot in Paris, et with Fridolin Hamma in Stuttgart. A typical date for a BAZIN Louis (II) would be c.1950.
Charles Alfred BAZIN (F-1907 / 1987)
A. Son of Charles-Louis, with whom he worked (1922). Established on his own accord in 1945, at Mirecourt, succeeded his father in 1952. Retired in 1980, he was the last bow maker of the great family. His bows are stamped in the same way as his Grandfather\'s : C. Bazin. A Cello bow by Charles Alfred Bazin, Mirecourt, c1960. Octagonal stick, mounted with gold
Bazin,Family
