Joseph Alfred Lamy cello bow, Paris circa 1890

From the second generation of the Lamy family of French luthiers, Joseph Alfred Lamy ("Lamy père" 1850-1919) headed the Lamy family of bow makers in Paris and was one of the most important French bow makers in history. Born in Mirecourt, he apprenticed with Claude Charles Nicolas Husson, later working for the instrument company run by Pierre Louis Gautrot in Chateau-Thierry. It was here that he met Joseph Voirin, the brother of the more famous bow maker François Nicolas. In 1876, Lamy moved to Paris to work as François Nicolas Voirin's assistant, establishing his own business after Voirin's death in 1885. Influenced by the bow models of Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, François Xavier Tourte, and Voirin, Lamy developed his own, slightly stronger bow model, while maintaining the delicacy and beauty of his early work. His bows won silver and gold medals at the 1889 World's Fair in Paris, and he was very influential among succeeding French bow makers, including Eugène Sartory. His nephew, Alfred Lamy, and his sons, Hippolyte Camille Lamy and Georges Léon Lamy-known collectively as "Lamy fils", were also successful bow makers. The bows of Joseph Alfred Lamy are highly regarded and sought after by professional players and collectors.