Biography

F.J. Gaulard was born in Mirecourt (Vosges

Vosges

Vosges is a French department, named after the local mountain range. It contains the hometown of Joan of Arc, Domrémy.-History:The Vosges department is one of the original 83 departments of France, created on February 9, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was made of territories that had been...

) in 1787. Son of Louis Gaulard, a Mirecourt

Mirecourt

Mirecourt is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France. Mirecourt is known for lace-making and the manufacture of musical instruments, particularly those of the violin family...

 luthier

Luthier

A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...

 and archetier / bow maker.
His early style of bowmaking suggests that François Jude Gaulard worked with Louis Simon Pajeot.

"Gaulard, who spent most of his professional life in Mirecourt

Mirecourt

Mirecourt is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France. Mirecourt is known for lace-making and the manufacture of musical instruments, particularly those of the violin family...

, started his own production of bows around 1785-1790. During the span of his artistic output, he left behind an important production of good quality bows in a large variety of woods (which include Pernambuco

Pernambuco

Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...

, snakewood, exotic wide grained wood and ironwood)."

His production of all kinds of bows is extensive and interesting, some being remarkably well made.
Around 1855 Gaulard left his home town of Mirecourt

Mirecourt

Mirecourt is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France. Mirecourt is known for lace-making and the manufacture of musical instruments, particularly those of the violin family...

 to join his son Louis Aguste, who ran a music shop in Troyes.
He died shortly after in 1857 in Troyes

Troyes

Troyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...

.
His bows are branded : "GAULARD.M." then "GAULARD" or unstamped.
He was registered as a violin and bow maker until 1854-55.