Auguste Barbé Cello Bow, Paris circa 1900

This is an exceptionally well preserved cello bow by Auguste Barbé, a close collaborator of FN Voirin – it’s in mint condition with its original lapping and head plate.

Made for the firm of Chanot et Chardon in Paris, this bow is in outstanding original condition, and serves as a great reference example for this maker. Barbé worked with Voirin for Gand & Bernardel, and shared his style so closely that it can sometimes be hard to separate the two makers. However, Barbé seems to have only worked for others, never branding his bows with his own name, and this has held back the reputation of his bows amongst musicians who often feel more comfortable buying a name.

There’s no denying the quality of work on this bow – graceful, perfectly proportioned, with the same jeweller’s exactitude that you would find on Voirin or Lamy.

The stick is of orange-brown round section pernambuco, mounts are silver and ebony. The lapping and thumb leather are original and perfectly preserved, as is the head plate. Because of the remarkable state of preservation we have elected not to clean the silver, which has a heavy tarnish.