Jacques Français

Caressa & Français was a distinguished firm in Paris that specialized in fine musical instruments and bows.

It was founded in 1901 by Albert Caressa and Henri Français, both of whom had worked for Gand-Bernardel 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 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.

The Caressa & Français firm carried on the tradition established by Lupot (in 1796) through several generations of talented violin makers including Auguste Sébastien Bernardel, Gustave Bernardel, Ernest Auguste Bernardel, Eugène Gand, and Emile Français (father of Jacques Français).

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 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.

The Caressa & Français firm amassed a very important collection of the finest instruments (of the violin family) which included Antonio Stradivarius, Giuseppe Guarneri, Domenico Montagnana, Sanctus Serafin, Lorenzo Storioni, Rugeri, Joannes Baptista Guadagnini, Nicolas Lupot, J. B. Vuillume to name a few, as well as an important fine bow collection including bows by François Tourte, Dominique Peccatte, Jean Pierre Marie Persois and many others.

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