Violin Bow by Joseph Alfred Lamy Père, Paris c.1900

Known as "Lamy Père," the son of Jean Joseph, he apprenticed under C. C. N. Husson from the age of 12 and was influenced by Vuillaume-Voirin styles. Between 1868 and 1876, he worked for Gautrot in Chateau-Thierry, employing Husson's techniques and designs. In 1876, he joined F. N. Voirin in Paris to become his assistant. After Voirin's death, in 1885, he set up his own workshop at 34 rue Poissonnière, becoming one of the few classical bow makers to create a unique brand without catering to dealers or violin makers with external labels. His work was heavily influenced by Voirin, with some models being almost indistinguishable to his master.

Lamy Père received silver and gold medals at the Paris exhibitions in 1889 and 1900. As his career developed, he changed his model slightly, with his later ones characterised by wider heads and stronger chamfers. His sons, Georges Léon and Hippolyte Camille, assisted him, with Hippolyte taking over the business in 1919 following Georges' death in World War I (1915). His bows, especially his Tourte replicas, are celebrated for their exceptional craftsmanship in the Voirin tradition.

He is considered one of the greatest French bow makers and seamlessly linked Voirin to Sartory, two other world renowned bow makers.

Visually, this bow is a beauty and a typical masterpiece by this maker. It is on the more flexible side, which makes Lamy bows so special. Plays with the elegance you would expect from such a fine bow. Its suppleness makes certain aspects of playing much easier, such as double stops and lyrical phrases, maintaining a beautiful resonance throughout the register.