Pierre Guillaume
~Message~
Celebrating a company's anniversary is not just about a date on the calendar.
It is an opportunity to look back on successes, to acknowledge the work of an entire team and to wish the best for future generations.
It also allows me to express my great respect for Mr Okada, whom I have known for nearly four decades through public auctions in London and trade fairs in Frankfurt and Cremona. His skills and perseverance are the foundation of the great success of his company, Tatsunoya Company. Mr Okada is a role model for all of us on an international level.
I was born into a family of musicians; my parents and sisters are all passionate amateur musicians. From a very young age, I played the cello, but I immediately developed an interest in making stringed instruments and their bows.
During my apprenticeship, I had the great fortune to work alongside the last great masters of French bow making, Bazin, Morizot and Ouchard. Their teaching was decisive, as they passed on to me the traditional French method of bow making.
At the end of my training in 1986, I took over the oldest European stringed instrument workshop, Maison BERNARD, established in Belgium since 1868. In collaboration with luthier Jan Strick, we serve an international clientele of professional musicians, amateurs and collectors from our workshop in Brussels.
My interest in antique French bows and their history has grown over the years. As an expert for the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office, I am consulted daily for my expert opinions, which are now recognised worldwide.
After a 40-year career, I still feel the same joy in seeing how my passion has continued to grow over the years.
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