Francois Gavinies

b. about 1700. Lived first at Bordeaux, but about 1730 moved to Paris with his son, and was living in rue St.-Thomas-du-Louvre, 1734-63. He made two very different kinds of instruments; the one inferior, the other, for which he used varnish and wood of good quality, was much liked. He generally branded them with his name. Instruments dated 1734, 1735, and 1751; also a six-stringed viol dated 1744 in the Paris Conservatoire Collection, are known. The Conservatoire also has, for the use of its pupils, one of his double-basses with the head sculptured to represent King David ; its tone is excellent, it was made in 1757. He had a son, Pierre, the celebrated violinist.