Charles Joseph BIZEY


Bizey’s birthday is not known with certitude but estimated to be 1685.

 

He passes his master certificate in Paris in 1716 and settles Mazarine street, Saint-Sulpice parish, where he will stay until around 1745. He then moves to Dauphine street, St-Andre-des-Arts parish.

 

Bizey maried three times. He first maried Elizabeth Simonne Chalopet, in Saint-Sulpice, in 1742. After his first wife’s death, he maried Anne Simonne Villars (relative of Paul Villars’, the apprentice then wind instruments maker.) She dies in 1747, and Bizey maried in third mariage Marguerite Chalopet, April 18th 1751 in Saint-Andre-des-Arts.

 

Bizey’s three wives were all from the Champagne region, around Bar-sur-Aube.

 

These marriages left him childless.

 

In 1747, Bizey took the young Prudent, 16, as apprentice for six years. He soon considered him as his own son, and at Bizey’s death, Prudent took the succession as the head of the wind instrument workshop.

 

Bizey did not have children. Prudent who, according to the guild’s tradition, should have married one of his daughter, married instead Marguerite Chapolet, Bizey’third wife’s sister. It is notable that Prudent was originally from the same region as Bizey’s wives.

 

In 1777, Dominique Porthaux married Elizabeth Thieriot, Prudent’s sister and in 1786 became his successor in his wind instrument shop.

 

The craftsmen dynasty started by Bizey in his rue Dauphine shop (from about 1745 until 1812) was famous for wind instruments making, especially hoboes (Bizey) et bassoons (Porthaux), as well as the improvements made to the flute by Bizey and Prudent.

 

Bizey signed his pieces with his name and a lily flower or a lily and a sun.

Bizey mark fleur de lis and sun
Bizey mark fleur de lis