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Birth : 1814 in Mirecourt (Vosges) Death : 1878 in Mirecourt (Vosges)

Summary

Known as Jules GAILLARD-LAJOUE

Biography

  Jean-Baptiste, Jules GAILLARD was born on October 8, 1814, in MIRECOURT. His birth certificate tells us that his father was a lace merchant.
We know very little about his training, except that, according to the label found on some of his violins, he was said to have been a "student of BERNARDEL."

  On February 5, 1850, he married Marguerite Joséphine LAJOUE, and it is probably from this date that his wife's name became associated with his own. In fact, under the name GAILLARD-LAJOUE, he was listed as an exhibitor at the 1855 International Exhibition in Paris. He presented several violins, a viola, and a cello, for which he was awarded a second-class medal. (1)
Jules GAILLARD passed away in MIRECOURT on February 2, 1878, without leaving a successor to his work as a luthier. His son, Charles Jean-Baptiste, who signed the death certificate, is listed as an "office employee." (2)

Works
  Jules GAILLARD primarily used two models, Stradivari and Guarneri, with the Stradivari-based model being the most common.
It is worth noting that for his scrolls he used only one model with a darkened bevel.
His instruments are generally coated with varnish ranging from brown to yellow-red or red-orange, fading significantly against a yellow background.
He frequently used strongly flamed maple and his backs could be either one or two piece.

  Like most workshops in MIRECOURT, his production ranged from instruments of character, with a completed craftsmanship, to simpler-made instruments, but always of high quality.

Label and Brand
  Jules GAILLARD’s instruments can, depending on the periods and models, bear: a label, a signature, a brand stamp, or the label of the Stradivari or Guarneri del Gesù reference model. (see iconography)

Honors and Awards
1855: Second-class medal, International Exhibition of Paris

Collaborator
Some authors note that Paul BAILLY may have been one of GAILLARD's collaborators.

Sources
(1) - Tableaux des expositions de 1798 à 1900. Malou Haine. Avril 2008
(2) - https://recherche-archives.vosges.fr/archive/recherche/etatcivil/n:2
(More specific publication references are available in our Bibliography section.)

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