WE Hill & Sons Violin, London 1904
This is a great violin from the Hill workshop – dating from 1904, it’s in a fine state of preservation and it has a concert sound.
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This is a great violin from the Hill workshop – dating from 1904, it’s in a fine state of preservation and it has a concert sound.
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A fine late 19th century Italian violin by the Neapolitan maker Raffaele Calace. Excellent condition and a warm and seductive voice.
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This is an interesting and finely made German bow sold by Chanot of London towards the end of the 19th century. Excellent condition and a bright, nervy stick.
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A good German bow from the early 20th century – well used but with excellent playing qualities.
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A classic Tourte model bow by Franz Albert Nürnberger (junior) – in outstanding condition and with a typically mature and rounded sound.
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Here we have an early Claude Thomassin made during his time at Gand & Bernardel – another exceptional bow from this highly individual maker.
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Nicolas Maire is a highly respected Mirecourt maker closely associated with Pajeot, but who made the all-important journey to Paris. His style evolved significantly during his working life – this mid-period stick is in immaculate condition and has superb copy mounts by Derek Wilson.
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This is a beautifully preserved early 20th century Mirecourt full-size violin for a smaller player, with a sweet and responsive tone.
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This is a very fine del Gesu copy by Paul Blanchard from around 1910. It’s in mint condition and the sound is first class – a highly collectable example of this maker’s best work.
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“Luigi Salsedo” instruments are well known in the UK, and have always been well regarded for their excellent tonal properties. This is a typical example in excellent condition, with a rich and powerful sound.
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This is a great Gillet viola bow in an outstanding state of preservation – it’s a phenomenal player too, strong but very responsive.
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This is a lovely bow by Joseph Arthur Vigneron, one of the outstanding makers of the late 19th century. The wood is spectacular, the condition is excellent, and it’s a great playing stick…
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An unusually fine Hill violin bow from the early 1930s, this silver and tortoiseshell example is in mint condition and plays wonderfully.
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Louis Bazin was a third generation bow-maker of consummate skill whose work is still undervalued simply because he worked in Mirecourt and not Paris. This bow is a mighty player and in top condition.
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Louis Morizot (Morizot Père) is one of my favourite makers, and here we have a beautiful and collectable bow of his in original condition – a spectacularly good player too.
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This is a beautifully preserved Claude Thomassin made for Paul Jombar – it has a big buttery sound and it’s a real eye-catcher.
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Here’s another great Jules Fétique, also made for Caressa & Francais – a very strong, lively player in exemplary condition.
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This is a great playing bow by one of the foremost makers of the Peccatte School, Pierre Simon. Some signs of use but in very good condition overall.
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This is a fine and beautifully preserved violin bow by Marcel Fétique – it’s in top condition and it produces a big sound.
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Joseph René Lafleur is one of a number of great makers whose work sits between that of FX Tourte and the Peccatte school. This bow is very typical of his early work and close to that of his teacher Francois Lupot. It has some minor issues but it’s an outstanding player.
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This is an outstanding violin bow by André Richaume, one of the finest and best preserved examples in existence. Kind of a “super-Sartory”, this bow’s playing qualities won’t disappoint.
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We are serious fans of James Tubbs, and we sell more bows by him than by any other maker. This is a very typical example of his middle period work, with the rounded ferrule, long adjuster and silver face that are his hallmarks. A small crack in the thumb projection of the frog, otherwise in very good condition overall and an excellent player.
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Riccardo Antoniazzi is one of the principal members of the modern Milanese school. This lovely violin from his last period is in outstanding condition and the sound is powerful and complex.
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There is still some uncertainty about who made the bows branded Simon FR, but they are consistent and individual in style, very close to the work of the Peccatte school. This bow is one of the best examples we have seen, eminently collectable but also a tremendous player.
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Emanuel Adam Homolka was the most talented maker to emerge from the Strnad workshop in Prague. His violins are rightly valued for their artistry and their tonal qualities. This is a lovely example with a unique silvery timbre.
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This is an exceptional modern French violin by the renowned partnership of R&M Millant. It’s in top condition and the sound is big and brilliant, suitable for the concert stage.
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The Nürnberger dynasty produced excellent bows for nearly two centuries. This is a beautiful and rather unusual model from the early 20th century in an exceptional state of preservation.
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Another excellent bow by Marcel Lapierre, a rather under-rated mid-20th century maker – this example has particularly attractive wood, it’s in great condition, and it plays very well indeed.
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We are on something of a journey with Persoit, and this is the third bow of his we have offered this year. This one is a very interesting example of his early work. It’s unusually well preserved, and predictably enough it’s a fabulous player.
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Victor Fétique is a hugely popular maker – still relatively affordable, his bows are always beautifully executed yet functional. This cello bow has had a good deal of use but remains in very good condition.
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Alecio Reis is a Brazilian bowmaker based in Cheltenham, UK. He has access to some superb pernambuco! This is a very attractive bow which he made for us a few years ago – it has been well used and much loved, but its owner has recently ugraded with us. We’re delighted to offer it again…
Georges Apparut ran a very successful workshop in MIrecourt between around 1927 and 1948. This violin is from his student range, yet it’s a very fine instrument with a sophisticated tone.
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Here is another “campfire Strad” – a great sounding but affordable violin – this one’s from Mittenwald, late 18th or early 19th century.
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Giuseppe Tarasconi is one of our favourite makers, a musician turned violin-maker who produced first-class instruments whilst retaining an immediately recognizeable style. This violin is a great example – in excellent condition and with a beautiful sound.
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This is a very fine violin by Piero Parravicini, a student of Antoniazzi and a prolific and successful maker. It’s in fabulous condition and the sound is warm and projecting.
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Riccardo Genovese was the principal student of Annibale Fagnola, but his work is softer and the sound always more successful. This is a fine example in great condition with a powerful and very even sound.
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This is a very attractive viola bow by Marcel Lapierre. Branded twice and dated 1960 under the frog, it’s in excellent condition – it’s also a remarkable player for its price.
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Yet one more excellent Hill bow, this time a fine early gold and tortoiseshell example with a stick by WIlliam Johnston, the frog bearing marks for Bultitude. Some wear to the stick but generally in very fine condition, and a lovely golden tone.
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Louis Gillet is best known as the maker of many late Sartory bows, but he was a formidable maker in his own right. This is an unusually attactive example – a very well balanced stick in top condition.
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Jean Persoit was a remarkable maker, and this is a remarkable Persoit. It’s in outstanding condition for a bow that’s nearly 200 years old, and it’s one of the best Persoits we have seen. A mighty bow for a leading soloist…
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This is a very fine violin bow by Charles Claude Husson, one of the last makers to join the Vuillaume workshop. It’s in excellent condition and an outstanding player with a bright, open sound.
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Hippolyte Camille Lamy is one of the most precise and gifted makers of the early 20th century – here we have an exceptional gold and ivory viola bow in mint condition.
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Lafleur is one of the great names in French bow-making, and this is a very fine early example of his work. Contemporary bow-makers would kill or maim to get their hands on this quality of pernambuco, dense, veined and beautifully flamed. The head is very artistic, a bell-like model which Pierre Simon championed in his work. Typical frog with 2-piece heel-plate, one single pin in the centre of the back plate.
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This is a fine mid-19th century English cello bow, most likely made in the workshop of William Tubbs. It’s a rare and collectable bow in excellent original condition.
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A beautifully preserved cello bow in silver and tortoiseshell by one of the early Hill makers, Sydney Yeoman.
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William Johnston was one of the first bowmakers to be employed by the Hill workshop. This is a published and highly collectable early example in near mint condition.
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This beautiful bow is one of the best Nürnbergers we have seen, and without doubt the finest we have ever had for sale. It’s a gold mounted example in excellent condition with exceptional playing qualities.
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Here we have a near-mint Carl Albert Nürnberger, a splendid, austere looking bow with a big fruity sound.
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Jules Fétique has a bit of a cult following amongst bow aficionados. This is a lovely example made during his time at Caressa & Français, currently in very good condition.
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Marco Raposo bows come from a well established Brazilian company who use responsibly sourced pernambuco. I’ve always been impressed with the quality of their bows – they are distinctive in looks and they play well.
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Fornaciari Jr. bows are made in Brazil and are very popular in the US. There’s a wide range of models – this bow is at the top of the range, made with excellent pernambuco and with full silver mounts.
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Another good Hill violin bow, this time the work of Sydney Yeoman – very well preserved, and a strong, smooth player.
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This is a good Hill bow made by Frank Napier, who worked for Hills between 1900 and 1930. It’s in good condition and plays beautifully.
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This is an exceptional Pierre Simon stick made for Vuillaume, with later copy mounts. The stick is in near-mint condition and the playability is all you would expect from one of the greatest makers of the 19th century.
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Claude Thomassin is one of the most undervalued makers of the early 20th century, and his bows are finally being recognized for their originality. Although still affordable, we are seeing values rising quite dramatically in the last 3-4 years. This example has a typically direct yet refined sound – the condition is excellent though the adjuster is a later copy.
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Branded WE H&S, this remarkable bow was made by Willam R. Retford (son of William C Retford) around 1930. A very responsive player of an ideal weight, in a fine state of preservation, this bow comes from the private collection of one of the most respected experts in Hill bows.
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A good Hill bow from 1936, made by Arthur Scarbrow. Branded “Hill” and with a plain frog with no back plate, this is nonetheless a great player’s bow in excellent condition.
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Nicolas Simon (also known as Simon Fr.) is a superb maker whose life and origins are still poorly documented. All we can say with certainty is that he made exceptional bows broadly in the style of Peccatte. This example is a great player’s bow, and very affordable thanks to a couple of minor condition issues.
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This is a very fine Joseph Henry in excellent condition. I have a particular soft spot for Henry, and this bow doesn’t disappoint in looks or in playability. It’s a top level bow for a serious professional.
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Sartory bows are universally admired for their reliablilty and for their quality of workmanship. This is a lovely early example from Sartory’s best period – the condition is very good, and it’s a spectacular player.
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FX Tourte is without question the greatest maker in the history of bow-making. Here we have a terrific FX Tourte stick in excellent condition, with mounts of the period probably by Francois Lupot II.
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This is a remarkable early Hill bow in gold and tortoiseshell made by Sydney Yeoman. It’s in exceptional condition for its age – a highly desirable collector’s item but also a great playing bow.
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This is an exceptional gold-mounted Sartory violin bow, formerly the property of the renowned French violinist Jacques Thibaud. It’s a remarkable bow in every way.
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EA Ouchard is probably the greatest of 20th century French makers, and this is the finest example we have seen. Gold mounted, spectacular wood, amazing condition, and most importantly a great player’s bow.
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Ansaldo Poggi is the most highy valued violinmaker of the 20th century, and here we have a rare viola in mint condition. An outstanding collector’s piece and a beautiful sounding instrument.
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Here we have a very attractive middle period James Tubbs violin bow, engraved DM/MD to the ferrule. Exceptional flamed pernambuco, a strong yet supple stick, and a gorgeous sound.
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Another great James Tubbs, this time a later model with a classic plain frog. The stick is strong and well balanced, and the condition is excellent.
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FW Chanot belongs to a distinguished line of violin-makers and experts. This violin is a beautifully preserved del Gesu copy with a powerful and supremely well balanced tone.
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Antonín Pilaš belonged to one of the great Czech violin-making dynasties, members of which are still active today. This is a very well preserved example of his wartime production – it’s a great sounding instrument with a big bright sound.
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Francesco Maurizi is a relatively obscure maker from the Marche region of central Italy. His violins are much admired for their quality of sound, though the construction can be quite hurried. This viola is a great example, with an unusually deep and noble sound for its size.
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This is a violin which has so far resisted all attempts at identification. Made in the copy style, most likely by the Dollenz family in Trieste, it’s an outstanding concert instrument with a rich, complex, bright voice.
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This is a fine Hardanger by the highly respected early 20th century maker Torleiv Frøysaa. It’s a beautiful sounding instrument with 4 sympathetic strings in good playing condition.
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Jacques Pierre Thibout is considered to be one of the best Parisian makers of the early 19th century. We have two violins of his at the moment, this one very much a player’s instrument with some minor restoration and a big bold sound.
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This is a very good modern Czech violin by Vilém Kužel. Meticulous craftsmanship on a Guarneri model, fine materials and an excellent sound.
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This is an exceptional example of the work of Julius Hubička, a highly productive but maddeningly inconsistent maker of the early 20th century. This particular violin ticks all the boxes – great sound, great condition, great price.
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An exceptional gold-mounted bow in unused condition by one of the most esteemed German makers of the 20th century.
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Louis Gillet is best known for his collaboration with Eugène Sartory,. Here we have a very fine Sartory inspired viola bow in excellent condition, and with playing qualities very similar to a good Sartory.
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Karel Pilař is one of a small group of talented makers active in Prague and Czechoslovakia in the mid 20th century. This is a typical example of his Strad-inspired model in excellent condition – it’s an outstanding players’s violin with a powerful yet refined tone.
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This is a rare del Gesu copy by one of the most interesting of late 19th century French makers, Joseph Hel. It’s an unusually fine sounding example of this maker’s work in very good condition.
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Here we have another excellent Paul Bailly from 1890 – it’s a very responsive instrument in excellent condition, and a great example of this maker’s work.
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This is a very fine viola by Piero Parravicini, a student of Antoniazzi and a prolific and successful maker. It’s an excellent size and the sound is rich and powerful.
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This is a rare and very pretty violin by the 18th century Dutch maker Jacques LeFebvre – it’s a superb sounding instrument in good restored condition.
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Another great Fétique bow, this one gold-mounted – a heavy but lively bow for a power player, and in very good condition.
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This is a remarkable small viola by Giuseppe Rocca in a very pure state of preservation, and with a tonal quality that’s quite astounding for the size.
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Made by Alberto Guerra, this is an excellent yet affordable modern Italian viola of good proportions with a warm, fruity sound. It has a slightly “lived-in” appearance but is free from any condition issues.
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This is a fine Italian viola of ideal proportions made by Marino Capicchioni in 1954 – it’s an unusually attractive example in excellent condition, with a big and bold sound.
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This is a fine early Collin-Mézin violin in excellent condition, and with a characteristically bold and rich sound.
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This is a very nice cello bow by EF Ouchard, a prolific and undervalued maker. It’s in good condition and plays very well.
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This is a very fine and rare example of the work of Célestin Clasquin. It’s a great playing bow in beautiful condition.
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This is a good Louis Morizot bow made very affordable by a replacement button – otherwise the condition is excellent and the bow plays beautifully.
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This is a great early James Tubbs viola bow made for WE Hill whose brand it bears. It’s in a very fine state of preservation and it’s an unusually versatile player.
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Contact us for more information on this Castello School Viola or look for similar violas here.
Contact us for more information on this Karel Pilar Violin or look for similar violins here.
Contact us for more information on this EA Ouchard Cello bow or look for similar cello bows here.
Contact us for more information on this Pierre Silvestre Violin or look for similar violins here.
Contact us for more information on this Otakar Spidlen Violin or look for similar violins here
This is an exceptional bow by one of the greatest of the French makers, Etienne Pajeot. It plays beautifully and the condition is outstanding.
Mounts: nickel/ebony
Dimensions: length 74.5cm weight 58.8 grams
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This is a unique early Sartory bow in superb condition – it’s a highly collectable bow but it also has a unique clarity of tone.
Mounts: silver/ebony
Dimensions: length 74.35cm, weight 61.5 grams
Certificate: Raffin-Le Canu-Bigot, Paris 2017
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