Joseph Alfred Lamy (1850-1919)

Joseph Alfred Lamy père (1850-1919) was born in Mirecourt and apprenticed under Claude Charles Nicholas Husson in Mirecourt, learning the Vuillaume-Voirin school of bow-making. At the beginning of his study, Lamy was only twelve years old. He went on to work for the Gautrot instrument factory in Château-Thierry, where Lamy became friends with fellow archetier Joseph Voirin. In 1876, Lamy left to work in Voirin’s brother, François Nicolas’, Paris workshop. After François Nicolas Voirin’s death, Lamy opened his own atelier in 1885. 

Although his workshop remained small—eventually expanding to include only his sons, Hippolyte Camille and Georges Léon—Lamy proved influential, and legendary archetier Eugène Sartory studied his work. Lamy’s bows won the silver and gold medals at the 1889 and 1890 Paris exhibitions. After his death in 1919, Lamy’s sons continued the atelier.