249:"The House of Caressa & Français was one of the world's renowned violin making and repair shops. They had acquired the former House of Gustave Bernardel in 1901 (the former House of Gand & Bernardel Freres in Paris founded by Nicolas Lupot in 1796). Henri sold his share in the business to Albert at the end of World War I. The House of Caressa was eventually taken over by Emile Français in 1938. The shop remained open during the German occupation of Paris in World War II and closed in 1981 after the death of Lucile Caressa Français. The Paris shop was patronized by some of the greatest names in music." –
207:"The Caressa & Français firm carried on the long lineage from the times of Nicolas Lupot, and later culminated with the foremost NYC shop established by Henri Français's grandson Jacques Français (son of Emile Français and Lucile Caressa). Jacques Français shop became a prominent international centre for rare string instruments and was patronized by many of the preeminent names in the concert world such as
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of Paris (founded in 1866), when they had succeeded (and purchased) the House of Gand et
Bernardel, Luthiers du Conservatoire de musique (Luthiers of the Music Conservatory). Over the course of its lifetime this shop became a leading international centre for rare string instruments and was patronized
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Eventually, the Paris-born
Jacques Francais (3 July 1923 – 4 February 2004), son of Emile Francais and Lucile Caressa, carried on the 200-year-old tradition of the family business by opening his own shop in New York City under the name of "Jacques Francais Rare Violins Inc." Francais's godfather was
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Albert
Caressa served his apprenticeship under Gand-Bernardel in Paris. In 1901, when Gustave Bernardel retired, Caressa became the head of Gand et Bernardel. Together with Henri Français (who also worked for the same firm) as a partner/associate, they ran the firm under the name of Caressa et
199:, Horacio Piñeiro, Boris Sverdlik, David T. Van Zandt, James N. McKean, Jerry Pasewicz, Christophe Landon, Jonathan Woolston (UK) and Richard Oppelt to name a few. Today, Gael Français (Jacques Francais's nephew) continues the family luthier tradition in NYC.
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In 1948 Mr. Francais came to New York on a one-way ticket with a bunch of instruments and fine etchings, to sell on consignment, and $ 50 to his name, and rejoined the
Wurlitzer firm for a brief period. Having spent time under the tutelage of Master
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at 250 W. 54th Street. He put together a formidable team inviting his friend and colleague Renè Morel (a Master
Restorer), and young apprentices he hired have become the leading makers of our time: makers/restorers such as
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Like many of the great
Parisian violin firms, Caressa & Français sold bows under its name (branded Caressa & Français). These bows were made by the great makers of the time including
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by many of the preeminent names in the concert world. The "Caressa" firm eventually was taken over by Emile Français (son of Henri
Francais) in 1938 and stayed in business until 1981.
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After many years in the violin trade, he decided to set up his own business. Jacques
Francais Rare Violins Inc. took up residence in the most prominent neighborhood, right next to
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Although
Jacques's passion was art, as he wanted to become an artist, his father Emile insisted and demanded that he stay in the family business. He was sent as an apprentice to
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187:, his skills in expertise, violin making and restoration grew to new heights. He also forged friendships with other masters that have become legendary, most notably Renè Morel.
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156:, the historical center of French violin-making and then went on to apprentice in Mittenwald, the German equivalent. He served in the Free French Ski Troops during
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Français until 1920, at which point Henri
Francais retired. The House of Caressa was eventually taken over by Emile Français (son of Henri Francais) in 1938.
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The Caressa & Français firm amassed a very important collection of the finest instruments (of the violin family) which included
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to work with his father, "who drilled him intensively on authenticating instruments / recognizing the instrument's origins".
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Vannes, Rene (1985) . Dictionnaire Universel del Luthiers (vol.3). Bruxelles: Les Amis de la musique.
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Les Luthiers Parisiens aux XIX et XX siecles Tom 3 "Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume et sa famille" –
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It was founded in 1901 by Albert Caressa and Henri Français, both of whom had worked for
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Les Luthiers Parisiens aux XIX et XX siecles Tom 3 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume et sa famille
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According to his wife (Beatrice), Mr. Francais then came to New York to apprentice with
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277:"The Jacques Français Rare Violins, Inc. Photographic Archive and Business Records"
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to name a few, as well as an important fine bow collection including bows by
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50:(in 1796) through several generations of talented violin makers including
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How Many Strads?, Ernest N. Doring, William Lewis & Son, Chicago, 1945
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The Caressa & Français firm carried on the tradition established by
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Parisian firm that specialized in fine musical instruments and bows
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Musical instrument manufacturing companies based in Paris
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26:that specialized in fine musical instruments and
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416:Raffin, Jean Francois; Millant, Bernard (2000).
320:Raffin, Jean Francois; Millant, Bernard (2000).
462:Universal Dictionary of Violin & Bow Makers
444:Dictionnaire Universel del Luthiers (vol.3)
279:. Smithsonian Institution. Archived from
140:Caressa & Français lineage continues
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446:. Bruxelles: Les Amis de la musique.
493:French companies established in 1901
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175:. The following year he returned to
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503:Bowed string instrument makers
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70:(father of Jacques Français).
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465:. Brighton; England: Amati.
420:. Paris: L'Archet Éditions.
381:Bows for Musical Instruments
324:. Paris: L'Archet Éditions.
22:was a distinguished firm in
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103:Joannes Baptista Guadagnini
52:Auguste Sébastien Bernardel
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362:Jacques Francais Obituary
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123:Jean Pierre Marie Persois
459:William, Henley (1969).
60:Ernest Auguste Bernardel
251:Smithsonian Institution
185:Simone Fernando Sacconi
173:Simone Fernando Sacconi
442:Vannes, Rene (1985) .
20:Caressa & Français
403:. Sernor: M. Dufour.
383:. Chicago: W. Lewis.
379:Roda, Joseph (1959).
350:16 April 2009 at the
367:Smithsonian Archives
345:Smithsonian Archives
79:Antonio Stradivarius
401:Les Archet Francais
197:Samuel Zygmuntowicz
87:Domenico Montagnana
243:to name a few." –
119:Dominique Peccatte
245:Gennady Filimonov
169:Rembert Wurlitzer
125:and many others.
83:Giuseppe Guarneri
56:Gustave Bernardel
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436:Sylvette Milliot
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397:Vatelot, Étienne
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283:on 16 April 2009
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241:Pinchas Zukerman
134:Claude Thomassin
95:Lorenzo Storioni
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233:Itzhak Perlman
229:Erick Friedman
225:David Oistrakh
213:Yehudi Menuhin
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145:the violinist
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136:among others.
130:Victor Fétique
111:J. B. Vuillume
68:Emile Français
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107:Nicolas Lupot
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285:. Retrieved
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217:Pablo Casals
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158:World War II
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209:Isaac Stern
64:Eugène Gand
498:Bow makers
487:Categories
256:References
154:Mirecourt
452:53749830
418:L'Archet
399:(1976).
348:Archived
322:L'Archet
101:family,
409:2850939
287:6 April
42:History
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389:906667
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203:Quotes
162:Vienna
99:Rugeri
66:, and
177:Paris
48:Lupot
24:Paris
467:ISBN
448:OCLC
438:2006
422:ISBN
405:OCLC
385:OCLC
326:ISBN
289:2009
132:and
28:bows
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