Charles Nicolas Eugene Gand
Paris, 1825–1892
Charles Nicolas Eugene Gand (1825-1892) was a distinguished French luthier, born in Paris, who received his training from his father and brother, Charles Adolphe Gand. He also pursued musical studies at the Paris Conservatoire under Baillot. After partnering with his brother to form Gand Frères, he later merged the business with the Bernardel brothers, creating the renowned firm Gand et Bernardel Frères. Celebrated as a connoisseur and expert restorer, Gand was highly decorated, receiving the Chevalier and Officier de la Légion d'honneur, among other international accolades. While his personal instruments are rare, he oversaw the production of over 2,000 instruments, applying the finishing touches and varnishing, ensuring they upheld the Lupot-Gand tradition. The firm was recognized with silver and gold medals at major exhibitions, including the 1878 Paris Exhibition where they supplied numerous instruments. Gand also produced high-quality bows and served as a jury member for various international exhibitions, solidifying his legacy in the world of stringed instrument making.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
135 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | First instrument of the maker, labelled Eugene Gand fils a Paris, 1842. No. 1 Lot 149 | Tarisio | November 2015 | £12,000est. £ 8,000-12,000 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1876 n°633 | — | January 2011 | £14,267 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1883 n°1039 | — | January 2011 | £7,186 |
| Cello | 76.4 cm Paris, 1879 | — | January 2011 | £27,567 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 77 g. Paris, 1880 c. (later frog & adjuster) | — | January 2011 | £1,750 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1882 | — | January 2011 | £9,600 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Paris, 1886 | — | January 2011 | £13,839 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | January 2011 | £1,420 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 75 g. | — | January 2011 | £4,501 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 54 g. | — | January 2011 | £2,880 |
| Violin Bow | G/T 55.5 g. Paris, 1880 c. without hair | — | January 2011 | £5,000 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | January 2010 | £3,120 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1887 n°1297 | — | January 2010 | £12,427 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 79.5 g. Paris, 1880 c. | — | January 2010 | £3,750 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Paris, 1850 c. | — | January 2010 | £7,250 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57.5 g. | — | January 2010 | £2,811 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Paris, 1881 | — | January 2010 | £15,600 |
| Violin Bow | N/E 63 g. Workshop of | — | January 2010 | £720 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1890 n°1476 | — | January 2009 | £8,378 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1882 n°1018 | — | January 2009 | £10,372 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Paris, 1874 n°566 | — | January 2009 | £11,646 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1876 Workshop of | — | January 2008 | £8,677 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1881 | — | January 2008 | £18,750 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Paris, 1889 #1400 | — | January 2008 | £5,570 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59.5 g. | — | January 2007 | £2,427 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Paris, 1886 | — | January 2007 | £8,750 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 55 g. | — | January 2007 | £1,020 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Paris, 1886, #1252 | — | January 2007 | £8,016 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 76.5 g. Paris, 1880 c. | — | January 2007 | £4,800 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 78 g. Paris, 1880 c. | — | January 2007 | £3,120 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Paris, 1885 | — | January 2006 | £11,647 |
| Violin Bow | S/T 58.5 g. 1860 c. | — | January 2006 | £3,387 |
| Violin | Paris, 1888 #1378 | — | January 2005 | £6,785 |
| Violin | Paris, 1889 Gilt inscription on ribs, 'Presentation Violin' | — | January 2005 | £12,000 |
| Violin | Paris, 1884 | — | January 2005 | £7,800 |
| Violin | Paris, 1891 #1521 | — | January 2005 | £6,711 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. | — | January 2005 | £3,632 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 55 g. | — | January 2005 | £2,040 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | January 2005 | £1,184 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61.5 g. (button possibly later) | — | January 2005 | £2,456 |
| Violin | Paris, 1885 | — | January 2005 | £4,588 |
| Violin | Paris, 1884 | — | January 2005 | £9,600 |
| Cello | Paris, 1890 c. Attributed to | — | January 2005 | £9,000 |
| Violin | Paris, 1887 | — | January 2005 | £13,200 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57 g. | — | January 2005 | £969 |
| Violin | Paris, 1880 | — | January 2005 | £17,545 |
| Viola | 41.0 cm Paris, 1872 | — | January 2004 | £8,962 |
| Violin | Paris, 1891 | — | January 2004 | £10,800 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 64 g. Possibly by "August Barb" | — | January 2004 | £2,490 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 78.5 g. | — | January 2004 | £3,217 |
| Violin | Paris, 1879 | — | January 2004 | £7,405 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 62.0 g. | — | January 2004 | £1,680 |
| Violin | 1878 | — | January 2003 | £9,400 |
| Viola | 43.7 cm 1888 | — | January 2003 | £3,600 |
| Cello | 1879 | — | January 2003 | £20,649 |
| Violin | 1891 | — | January 2003 | £10,415 |
| Violin | 1877 | — | January 2003 | £9,166 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | January 2003 | £2,203 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 78 g. | — | January 2003 | £3,585 |
| Violin | 1891 | — | January 2002 | £14,100 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | January 2002 | £1,673 |
| Violin | 1885 | — | January 2002 | £10,707 |
| Violin | 1886 | — | January 2002 | £11,826 |
| Bass | 1888 | — | January 2001 | £18,913 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 74 g. | — | January 2001 | £700 |
| Viola | 1883 | — | January 2001 | £5,500 |
| Violin | 1890 | — | January 2001 | £11,348 |
| Bass Bow | ?/E 129 g. | — | January 2001 | £1,127 |
| Violin | 1877 | — | January 2001 | £9,220 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 54 g. | — | January 2001 | £660 |
| Violin | 1879 | — | January 2000 | £7,136 |
| Cello Bow | G/T 80 g. | — | January 2000 | £1,045 |
| Violin | 1877 | — | January 2000 | £9,664 |
| Violin | 1881 | — | January 2000 | £12,971 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 63 g. | — | January 2000 | £1,610 |
| Violin | 1882 | — | January 1999 | £10,152 |
| Violin | 1890 | — | January 1999 | £4,600 |
| Violin | 1878 | — | January 1999 | £10,300 |
| Violin | 1890 | — | January 1998 | £6,900 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 62 g. | — | January 1998 | £1,380 |
| Violin | 1890 | — | January 1998 | £9,699 |
| Viola | 40.3 cm 1885 | — | January 1998 | £10,925 |
| Violin | 1885 | — | January 1997 | £7,820 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 71 g. | — | January 1997 | £2,185 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | January 1997 | £1,380 |
| Violin | 1870 c. | — | January 1997 | £8,050 |
| Violin | 1886 | — | January 1997 | £6,670 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | January 1997 | £2,760 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 64 g. | — | January 1997 | £1,380 |
| Violin Bow | N/E 61 g. | — | January 1997 | £805 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. | — | January 1996 | £2,530 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. | — | January 1996 | £1,150 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 81 g. | — | January 1996 | £5,750 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 78 g. | — | January 1996 | £2,300 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 76 g. | — | January 1996 | £1,092 |
| Violin | 1876 | — | January 1996 | £11,275 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. | — | January 1996 | £3,450 |
| Violin | 1881 | — | January 1995 | £8,222 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 84 g. | — | January 1995 | £1,265 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. | — | January 1995 | £2,185 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 54 g. | — | January 1995 | £1,035 |
| Violin | 1876 | — | January 1994 | £8,050 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | January 1994 | £3,954 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 52 g. | — | January 1994 | £805 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | January 1994 | £1,610 |
| Violin | 1876 | — | January 1994 | £11,500 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. | — | January 1994 | £1,035 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 62 g. | — | January 1994 | £2,300 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | January 1994 | £1,840 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | January 1993 | £1,561 |
| Violin | 1879 | — | January 1993 | £13,800 |
| Violin | 18-- | — | January 1993 | £10,350 |
| Violin | 1890 | — | January 1993 | £9,350 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57 g. | — | January 1993 | £1,610 |
| Violin | 1886 | — | January 1993 | £9,200 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. | — | January 1993 | £953 |
| Violin | 1879 | — | January 1993 | £16,100 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 76 g. | — | January 1992 | £2,640 |
| Violin | 1879 | — | January 1992 | £14,300 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 56 g. | — | January 1992 | £1,320 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57 g. | — | January 1992 | £1,430 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. | — | January 1992 | £1,430 |
| Violin | 1870 | — | January 1991 | £9,900 |
| Violin | 1887 | — | January 1991 | £8,580 |
| Violin | 1890 c. | — | January 1991 | £1,870 |
| Viola | 41.1 cm 1884 | — | January 1990 | £12,100 |
| Violin | 1887 | — | January 1989 | £8,580 |
| Violin | 1892 | — | January 1989 | £8,800 |
| Violin | 1891 | — | January 1988 | £6,600 |
| Violin | 1881 | — | January 1988 | £5,500 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 69 g. | — | January 1985 | £1,279 |
| Violin | 1875 | — | January 1984 | £2,567 |
| Violin | 18-- | — | January 1982 | £4,840 |
| Violin | 1885 | — | January 1981 | £3,190 |
| Violin | 1881 | — | January 1981 | £3,667 |
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Maker Overview
Life
Charles Nicolas Eugene Gand (1825-1892) was born on June 5, 1825, in Paris, France, and passed away on February 5, 1892, in Boulogne-sur-Seine. He was the younger son of Charles François Gand and received his early training in instrument making from his father and his brother, Charles Adolphe. Concurrently, he pursued musical studies, entering the Paris Conservatoire on November 19, 1834, and joining Baillot's special violin class on November 28, 1840, remaining there until Baillot's death in 1842. In 1855, he partnered with his brother, Charles Adolphe, to form Gand Frères. Following his brother's death in 1866, the business merged with that of the Bernardel brothers, becoming Gand et Bernardel Frères. This union combined two renowned houses and their workshops. Charles Nicolas Eugene Gand was celebrated as a connoisseur and an expert restorer of instruments. He was appointed Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 1878 and received other appointments from the royal houses of Belgium and Spain. He was made Officier de la Légion d'honneur on October 29, 1889.
Characteristics
- Instrument Production: Charles Nicolas Eugene Gand's own instruments are considered rare. Under the Gand et Bernardel Frères name, over 2,000 instruments were produced by craftsmen in the workshop, with Eugène overseeing the activity and taking responsibility for the varnishing. All instruments from this period are fine examples of the Lupot-Gand tradition.
- Exhibition Instruments: For the Paris Exhibition in 1878, the firm supplied 52 violins, 18 violas, 18 cellos, and 18 double basses, specifically made for the large orchestras playing there. These instruments were all labeled "Palais du Trocadero, 1878."
- Workmanship: Although workmen constructed the instruments, Eugène himself applied the finishing touches and varnished all instruments bearing his name. Between 1866 and his death, 1506 violins, 460 cellos, and 190 violas passed through his hands, with the last violin completed on August 14, 1891.
- Bows: He also produced very good bows, with his violin bows particularly noted for their lightness and perfect balance.
- Special Exhibitions: In 1889, he and Gustave Bernardel exhibited a double-bass that was notable for being of ordinary size but featuring five strings.
- Exhibition Awards: The firm was awarded a silver medal at the 1867 Exhibition. In 1878, they exhibited a double quartet, which was praised for its great beauty, harmonious proportions, careful workmanship, red varnish similar to Lupot's, and excellent tone, earning them a gold medal.
- Bows branded: GAND & BERNARDEL Eugène Gand fils
à Paris 1842 no1 Gand & Bernadel à Paris 1842John Dilworth - No. 1 Gand & Bernardel
Luthiers du Conservatoire de Musique
No.. Paris 18..John Dilworth - Gand & Bernadel Fres.
Luthiers de la Musique de l’Empereur et du Conservatoire.
No.. Pom 18..John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Mentorship: Charles Nicolas Eugene Gand was a pupil of his father, Charles François Gand, and his brother, Charles Adolphe Gand.
- Musical Training: He trained as a violinist under Baillot at the Paris Conservatoire from 1840 to 1842.
- Awards and Honors: He was made Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur on October 20, 1878, and Officier de la Légion d'honneur on October 29, 1889. He also received the Nicham Iftichar on October 20, 1885, the Order of Leopold of Belgium on February 1, 1886, the Order of Isabelle la Catholique on March 18, 1889, and "les palmes académiques" on December 29, 1888.
- Jury Appointments: He served as a member of the jury at various exhibitions, including Amsterdam (1883), Rouen (1884), Antwerp (1885), Havre (1887), Barcelona (1888), and Paris (1889).
- Firm Awards: The firm "Gand" received a silver medal at the 1867 Exhibition and a gold medal at the 1878 Paris Exhibition.
Further Information
- Workshop Locations: The firm "Gand et Bernardel freres" was initially located at 21, rue Croix-des-petits-Champs, and later moved to 4, passage Saulnier in 1883.
- Bows Branding: Bows produced by the firm were branded "GAND & BERNARDEL."
- Instrument Labels: Instruments made for the Paris Exhibition in 1878 were labeled "Palais du Trocadero, 1878." Other labels included "Eugène Gand fils / à Paris 1842 no1," "Gand & Bernadel à Paris 1842 No. 1," "Gand & Bernardel / Luthiers du Conservatoire de Musique / No.. Paris 18..," and "Gand & Bernadel Fres. / Luthiers de la Musique de l'Empereur et du Conservatoire. / No.. Pom 18..."
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
GAND, Charles Nicolas Eugène Born 1825, died 1892 Paris France. Son of Charles François Gand, above. Pupil of his father and of his brother, Charles Adolphe. Trained as a violinist under Baillot in the Paris Conservatoire 1840-1842. Joined Charles Adolphe to form Gand Frères 1855. Made Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur 1878, along with other appointments by the royal houses of Belgium and Spain. Renowned as a connoisseur and expert restorer, his own instruments are rare. On the death of his brother, the business was integrated with that of Bernardel, becoming Gand et Bernardel Frères in 1866. Under this name over 2,000 instruments were produced by craftsmen working in the shop, but Eugène oversaw the activity and took responsibility for the varnishing. All instruments fine examples of the Lupot-Gand tradition. 32 violins, 18 violas, 18 cellos, and 18 double basses specially made for the Paris Exhibition 1878, all labelled: Palais du Trocadero, 1878. Bows branded: GAND & BERNARDEL Eugène Gand fils / à Paris 1842 no1 Gand & Bernadel à Paris 1842 No. 1 Gand & Bernardel / Luthiers du Conservatoire de Musique / No.. Paris 18.. Gand & Bernadel Fres. / Luthiers de la Musique de l’Empereur et du Conservatoire. / No.. Pom 18..
Cecie Stainer+
Second son of Charles François Gand, b. June 5, 1825, Paris; d. Feb. 5, 1892, Boulogne-sur-Seine. He studied music, at the same time learnt his trade under his father and brother. Entered the Paris Conservatoire, Nov. 19, 1834, being admitted to Baillot’s special violin class, Nov. 28, 1840, and not leaving until Baillot’s death, in 1842. He joined his brother Charles Adolphe as partner in 1855 ; Adolphe dying in 1866, the two houses, Gand and Bernardel, became one. ” Gand et Bernardel freres” were first at 21, rue Croix-des-petits-Champs, then at 4, passage Saulnier in 1883.
Instruments were no longer carefully constructed by the maker himself, workmen had to be employed to make the quantities of instruments required for orchestra playing; during the Paris Exhibition, 1878, the firm ” Gand ” supplied 52 violins, 18 altos, 18 violoncellos, and 18 double-basses for the big orchestras playing there. These instruments all have ” Palais du Trocadero, 1878.” on their labels. Though clever workmen had worked on them, all instruments that bear his name received the finishing touches and were varnished by Eugene himself.
He also made very good bows, the violin bows especially are noted for their lightness and perfect balance. Like his father he was a great authority on old instruments. Between 1866 and the year of his death. 1506 violins, 460 violoncellos, and 190 altos passed through his hands, the last violin being finished on August 14, 1891. In 1889 he and Gustave Bernadel exhibited a double-bass, noticeable as being of the ordinary size, but having five strings. The firm was awarded the silver medal at the 1867 Exhibition ; in 1878 they exhibited a double quartet, which was reported on as being of great beauty, harmonious proportions, careful workmanship, with red varnish like that of Lupot, excellent tone, everything showing a skilled maker ; they were awarded the gold medal.
Eugene was made Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur (Oct. 20, 1878). He was appointed a member of the jury at the Exhibition of Amsterdam, 1883 ; Kouen, 1884; Antwerp, 1885 ; Havre. 1887; Barcelona, 1888 ; and of Paris, 1889, when he was made Officier de la Legion d’honneur (Oct. 29, 1889). He also received the following orders and honours : Nicham Iftichar. Oct. 20, 1885, order of Leopold of Belgium, Feb. 1, 1886; of Isabelle la Catholique, March 18, 1889 ; and ” les palmes academiques,” Dec. 29. 1888.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Jüngerer Sohn und Schüler von Ch. Franç. G. Er verband sich 1855 mit
seinem Bruder und 1866 nach dem Tode desselben mit den Brüdern Bernardel.
Die beiden berühmten Häuser wurden dadurch zu einem vereinigt, ihre Werkstätten
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