Paris in the 19^th. century was truly the center of the musical world. And of course, it was also the home of the finest and most important violin dealers and makers of that era. Among the most distinguished of these were the members of the Gand family. The senior member of the Gand dynasty was Charles Michel (1748-1820) and it continued on for three generations. Charles Adolphe worked with brother Eugène, forming “Gand Frères”. They won first prize at the Paris Exhibition of 1855. Charles Adolphe was made Chavalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 1862. Violins from the Gand family and especially Gand Frères are among the most prized and sought after of the classic 19^th. century Parisian violins.