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Birth : 1787 in Versailles (Yvelines) Death : 1845 in Paris (Ile de France)

Summary

Also known as GAND Père.
One of the main French violin makers.

Biography

Career
Known as Gand Père, Charles-François GAND was the son and pupil of Charles Michel GAND, a violin maker who was living in MIRECOURT circa 1750, before coming to Versailles in 1780.
He worked first with Nicolas LUPOT from 1802 to 1810, then joined his father's workshop, where he signed some violins between 1807 and 1816.
At the death of his father, in 1820, Charles François GAND took over the workshop of Jean Gabriel KOLIKER at 24 rue Croix des Petits Champs in Paris. He married Nicolas LUPOT's adopted daughter and succeeded LUPOT in 1824.

Works
Charles-François GAND is considered as one of the primary French violin makers. His instruments are typical of the French school of this period and the best ones are deeply influenced by LUPOT.
They are bold and powerful, coated with a rich red-brown or orange-brown varnish.
Some of the violins made by Gand were made with a three piece table with the middle strip being the same dimensions as the width of the bridge. This central part was not carved but made in a wooden plate with a constant thickness. The plate was then curved to get the desired arching. The presumption was to use a piece of wood with the resin canals intact( or resin canals ungraded) to attain the maximum sound emission and resonance.

Honors & Awards
Luthier de la Musique du Roi (Luthier of the King's Music)
Luthier de l'Ecole Royale de Musique (Luthier of the Royal School of Music)
Luthier du Conservatoire Royal de Musique (Luthier of the Royal Music Conservatory)

Collaborators
BARBÉ Télesphore Amable
BERNARDEL Auguste Sebastien
CHANOT Georges (1821)
GERMAIN Joseph, Louis (1840 to 1845)
RAMBAUX Claude (c. 1840)
SILVESTRE Pierre (1824 to 1829)

Successors
At GAND's death in 1845, his son and pupil, Charles-Adolphe GAND, succeeded him.

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