François-Xavier Bazin (10 May 1824 – 1 August 1865) was an important
French archetier and master bow maker, and was first of the
Bazin dynasty.
Bazin was born 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 ...
to Joseph Eustache Bazin (1785-1863), judiciary clerk, and Marguerite Laurent. Notable experts suggest that he was influenced and purportedly studied with
Dominique Peccatte and
Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume
Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (; 7 October 1798 – 19 March 1875) was a French luthier, businessman, inventor and winner of many awards.
He was one of the finest French luthiers of the 19th century and a key figure in the world of violin making. ...
in Paris, then established himself in Mirecourt around 1840.
He was brother of Charles-Nicolas Bazin I, and father of
Charles Nicolas Bazin II.
On 25 August 1845 he married Jeanne Hélène Maucotel, an embroiderer. They had six children, including
Charles Nicolas Bazin, the bow maker.
A catalogue of Louis Bazin & Son mentions him "Manufacture d'Archets de violons - Maison fondée en 1840".
As the first prominent Bazin bow makers, he fuelled the social rise of the family.
He invested in real estate, including the 'Hauts de Chaumont' vineyard.
Bazin taught bow making to his son
Charles Nicolas Bazin. He died at the age of 41, apparently of cholera. François-Xavier made only a small number of bows, but this was sufficient to establish the family’s reputation.
He made excellent bows in
Peccatte style. His bows are rare.
Bazin was a master bow maker, who was very much influenced by
Dominique Peccatte. According to Italian bow expert Paolo Sarri: "Two are the periods of his work. The first, characterized by lines that remind authors such as
Nicolas Maline and
Joseph Fonclause, with angular shapes influenced the
Peccattian school. In the late '50s, following the current fashion, he comes back to a softer style similar to
Voirin's one." He added: "Because of his untimely death, Francois Xavier's bows are not so easy to find"
References
* Les Bazin - une dynastie d'archetiers et de luthiers - Les Amis du Vieux Mirecourt Regain
*The Rise & Fall of a Dynasty STRAD 1994 , Les Bazin - une dynastie d'archetiers et de luthiers - Les Amis du Vieux Mirecourt Regain: translated from French to English by Gennady & Carole Filimonov
*
*
*
* Discovering bows for the Double Bass 1994 Beaux Arts Editions - Christopher Brown
* Dictionnaire Universel del Luthiers -
Rene Vannes 1951,1972, 1985 (vol.3)
*
Universal Dictionary of Violin & Bow Makers - William Henley 1970
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bazin, Francois Xavier
1824 births
1865 deaths
Bow makers
19th-century French people
Luthiers from Mirecourt