Author Archives: Anna
Eugène Sartory Violin Bow, Paris circa 1898
£18,000
This is a very fine Sartory in excellent condition. The stick is almost a centimetre longer than normal, hence the bargain price. Ideal for a taller player! More details
Eugène Sartory Violin Bow, Paris circa 1935
£28,000
Sartory is without doubt the most popular maker of bows of any period and from any part of the world. His bows are highly sought after and the price just keeps going up! Here we have a very strong late-period Sartory in excellent condition. More details
Ludovico Rastelli Violin, Genoa circa 1870
£60,000
This is a very charming late 19th century Italian violin by the rare Genoese maker Ludovico Rastelli. It’s entirely free from cracks and has a muscular, beautifully balanced sound. More details
Jean Grand Adam Cello Bow, Paris circa 1850
£48,500
Jean “Grand” Adam is a maker whose genius has only recently been acknowledged. Here we have an excellent stick dating from around 1850, fitted with new copy mounts. More details
WE Hill & Son Violin Bow, London 1939
£5,750
This is a beautifully preserved Hill bow from 1939 with outstanding tone and playability. More details
HR Pfretzschner Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1885
£7,500
This is a rare early Pfretzschner with some unusual features, made as a copy of an earlier French bow. A great bow for classical repertoire, with a beautiful and luminous tone. More details
A Mirecourt 7/8 Violin, Poirsons Label, 1914
£1,350
This is a fine sounding Mirecourt 7/8 violin, ideal for a smaller player, and very affordable. More details
Arthur Bultitude Viola Bow circa 1970
£6,000
Arthur Bultitude is a highly respected English maker who spent much of his working life at Hills. On leaving the Hill shop he specialised in exquisite bows with ornamental frogs such as this lovely viola bow. More details
Carl Albert Nürnberger Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1920
£5,750
Another lovely Tourte-model Carl Albert Nürnberger, this one from the 1920s but already exhibiting all the typical features. Lighter than many but still a firm stick with a full sound. More details
WE Hill & Son Violin Bow, London 1939
£9,000
WE Hill & Son bows come in many grades and levels of quality, but this bow must be one of the the best examples. A great player’s bow too, and in unusually fine condition. More details
HR Pfretzschner Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1890
£5,750
This is a fine early Pfretzschner in very good condition – a beautiful piece of bow-making and a phenomenal player. More details
Charles Bazin Violin Bow, Mirecourt circa 1960
£4,500
Charles Bazin was the last of a long line of Mirecourt makers, working alongside his father Louis Bazin for most of his life. He was a very consistent maker, and this bow is a superb player as you would expect. More details
Carl Albert Nürnberger Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1930
£6,000
This is a classic 1930s Nürnberger bow in mint condition, and a very solid player drawing a big tone More details
Adolf Christian Nürnberger Cello Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1880
£9,500
This is an exceptional cello bow by a very rare maker, not to be confused with Albert Nürnberger. Made from first-class pernambuco reminiscent of FX Tourte wood, and in excellent condition. More details
Otakar F Špidlen Violin, Prague 1927
£11,000
Anyone who looks at this website regularly will know that we are big fans of the Prague makers. The Špidlen family is probably the most important dynasty, spanning four generations. This violin by Otakar Špidlen is a lovely del Gesu copy in near mint condition. More details
Jerome Thibouville-Lamy Violin, Mirecourt 1905
£7,250
Jerome Thibouville-Lamy, or JTL, is one of the best-known names in the violin trade. The JTL mega-workshops in the Vosges produced hundreds of thousands of violins from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century. Mostly these were student violins which have remained popular on account of their excellent sound. But they also produced beautiful handmade “violons de maitre”, most likely the work of Alfred Acoulon – these were signed and numbered, and sold at the time for 10 times the price of their ever-popular Barnabetti-labelled instruments. More details
Fritz Müller Cello Bow, Bubenreuth circa 1960
£2,750
This is a rather superior modern German bow with decorative mounts – it’s a stiff and powerful stick in a shorter length, ideal for a smaller player. More details
Emile F. Ouchard Violin Bow, Mirecourt circa 1925
£7,000
Emile Ouchard is one of the more undervalued of French makers, largely because he worked in Mirecourt rather than Paris. Here we have a very nice and typical example in excellent condition. More details
A German Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1930
£1,500
This is an excellent silver mounted German bow with the playing qualities of a fine Nürnberger. More details
A French Viola Bow, Mirecourt circa 1920
£2,500
This is a lovely French viola bow of the Ouchard/Cuniot-Hury type, made in Mirecourt around 1930. Quite light in weight but packing a punch, this is a very versatile bow which draws a full and elegant sound. More details
August Rau Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1935
£2,250
August Rau was a very accomplished German maker who trained with Nürnberger, Knopf and Weichold before becoming independent. This is an example from his later period – it’s a great player in very good condition, but with a replacement adjuster. More details
Luigi Salsedo Violin, 1928
£5,000
“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. More details
Friedrich Lohmann Violin, Buxtehude 1951
Recently sold
A great sounding violin by a very talented amateur maker, slightly undersized and perfect for a smaller player. More details
Charles JB Collin-Mézin Violin, Paris 1884
Recently sold
Collin-Mézin is probably one of the best known names in the violin trade. Although the firm went rather downhill in the 20th century, pre-1900 violins by Collin-Mézin Senior are very sought after, partly because they represent the best in French workmanship, partly because they are always successful tonally. More details
Carl Albert Nürnberger Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1920
£5,000
Carl Albert Nürnberger was one of the third generation of bowmakers from this important German family. His work is very accomplished and quite distinctive, particularly the bold Parisian eyes and the use of plain mother of pearl. More details
Étienne Pajeot Violin Bow, Mirecourt circa 1825
£40,000
Étienne Pajeot is one of the most important figures in the history of bow-making. This example is a top class player’s bow in very fine condition The original frog is an experimental open ebony frog – we are offering the bow with an additional and more workable copy frog made by Yannick Le Canu. More details
Tino Lucke Violin Bow, Berlin 2006
£7,000
Tino Lucke is a highly respected modern maker whose bows are in great demand amongst players. Here we have a beautiful example of his work in mint condition. More details
Lorenzo & Tomasso Carcassi, Florence 1772
Price on application
The brothers Lorenzo and Tomasso Carcassi collaborated on violins between around 1750 and 1780, and produced numerous superb sounding violins on a Stainer model. This is a very fine example in excellent condition for its age, with a powerful and limpid tone suitable for a demanding professional. More details
Karel Pilar Violin, Hradec Králové 1951
£12,000
This is a very fine mid/20th century violin by one of the great Czech makers, Karel Pilar. It’s a beautiful looking instrument in near mint condition, with a very responsive and engaging concert sound. More details
James Tubbs Viola Bow, London circa 1870
£18,000
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. More details
William Tubbs Viola Bow, London circa 1860
£12,500 On trial
This is a very fine viola bow made for James Dodd by William Tubbs. It’s an exceptional example in excellent condition, and it plays beautifully. More details
FN Voirin Viola Bow, Paris circa 1875
£30,000
FN Voirin is a maker whose influence cannot be underestimated. His precision and artistry have never been superseded, and his bows are the most refined of all the French makers. This viola bow is a beautiful example of his work in excellent condition. More details
Georges Chanot Violin, Paris circa 1830
£60,000
Georges Chanot is widely regarded as one of the greatest French makers, with a very personal style and a great reputation for tone. This example is an early Strad model, very artistic and with a phenomenal sound. More details
K. Gerhard Penzel Violin Bow, Erlbach circa 1980
Recently sold
The Penzel family have been making bows for over a century, and are still in business. K. Gerhard Penzel (1929-2017) was the third generation of the family. This bow is their top of the range “exquisit” model in gold and tortoiseshell, and is a superb playing stick in near mint condition. More details
Johann Scheverle Viola, Prague circa 1770
£12,000
We have become completely besotted with the Prague makers – their instruments are of the highest level tonally, yet still so undervalued in the marketplace. Scheverle is a rare maker who is believed to have apprenticed with Hellmer – here we have a superb sounding viola of an excellent size. More details
JTL Violin, Mirecourt circa 1895
£3,500
It’s very hard to beat a good JTL violin, and this is an unusually good one – very attractive, in great condition, and with an excellent sound. More details
Wilhelm Knopf Viola Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1870
Recently sold
This is a composite bow – the stick is by Wilhelm Knopf, the button also Knopf and of the period, the frog later. It represents a great opportunity to get a superb player’s bow at a bargain price. More details
FN Voirin Violin Bow, Paris circa 1880
£25,000
FN Voirin is one of the few genuinely important makers, and here we have an unusually fine example of his work in excellent condition. It’s also a very strong stick with superb playing qualities. More details
James & John Simpson Viola, London circa 1780
Recently sold
A very fine late 18th century small viola bearing the J&J Simpson label, with a full and rich viola sound. More details
François Xavier Tourte Violin Bow, Paris circa 1810
Price on application
FX Tourte is the “ne plus ultra” of bow-making. Like Stradivari and the violin, he created the modern bow, and his achievements have never been surpassed in any significant way. Here we have a very fine example, beautifully preserved, and with superb playing qualities. There are some minor condition issues, and for a Tourte it’s almost affordable!
Rod Ward Viola, Cambridge 2005
Recently sold
Rod Ward has been making great instruments for over 40 years now : http://www.wardviolins.com/. This lovely small viola is a typical example of his aesthetic – not antiqued but very faithful to the early Italian makers. Great sound and near mint condition … More details
Nicolaus Georg Skomal Violin, Graz 1804
£15,000
Nicolaus Skomal was a Prague maker who lived and worked in Graz, Austria, producing violin family instruments as well as guitars and lutes. This violin is beautifully made exhibiting great skill, and the sound is first class. More details
A Good Mittenwald Violin, circa 1820
£8,500
This is a lovely Mittenwald “Verleger” violin in outstanding condition, with a bright zingy sound that’s full of character. More details
Gustav Lütschg Violin, Bern 1927
£10,000
Gustav Lütschg was a fine Swiss maker, pupil of and successor to Gustav Methfessel. This violin is a lovely example of his work in near-perfect condition, with a rich and slightly dark sound. More details
Joseph Alfred Lamy (Père) Violin Bow, Paris circa 1895
£18,000
This is a very fine Joseph Alfred Lamy in excellent condition, stamped A Lamy à Paris. It’s in great condition and it has a brilliant and sophisticated sound. More details
Antonio Rovetta Violin, Brescia 1898
£8,500
This is a lovely and idiosyncratic late 19th century Italian violin bearing an authentic label and brand from Antonio Rovetta. It’s a great sounding instrument and very affordable … More details
Hippolyte Chrétien Silvestre Violin, Lyon 1876
£35,000
The Silvestre family were at the heart of French violin-making in the 19th century, with strong connections to Gand and Vuillaume – to my mind HC Silvestre was the most successful maker in the family. Here we have a beautiful HC Silvestre in near-mint condition and with a top-class concert sound. More details
Giovanni & Giuseppe Dollenz Violin, Trieste circa 1855
£55,000
For a long time Giovanni Dollenz’s rare ability as a maker has been attributed to some connection with Storioni – such stories sell violins! Whatever his influences, he was a maker with a dashing and individual style. The violins in the 1850s were made in collaboration with his son Giuseppe, who is regarded as in every way the equal of his father. More details
Pierre Silvestre Violin, Lyon 1852
£55,000
Pierre Silvestre is one of the greatest of French violin makers – he was direct successor to Lupot, and founder of the all-important Lyon school. I have a real soft spot for the Silvestres, but Pierre was the real talent! This violin is a rare Guarneri pattern, it’s in great condition if rather well-loved, and the sound is exceptional. More details
Gand & Bernardel Viola, Paris 1888
£45,000
Gand & Bernardel were the largest and most prestigious Parisian workshop of the late 19th century. To a great extent they took on the mantle of JB Vuillaume, adopting similar working practices, employing excellent makers and also producing beautiful bows. More details
Emile Auguste Ouchard Viola Bow, New York circa 1950
£19,000
Emile Auguste Ouchard is one of the most highly valued bow makers of the 20th century. His style is individual and very precise, and the playing qualities of his bows are rarely surpassed. Many professionals use an EA Ouchard. This fine viola bow from his New York period is a very good example, powerful yet responsive and with a huge sound. More details
Pierre Simon Cello Bow, Paris circa 1860
£60,000
Pierre Simon is one of the great bowmakers of the mid 19th century, closely associated with Dominique Peccatte and Joseph Henry, but working in his own distinctive manner. Simon bows engender a quite fanatical devotion on the part of their owners – their combination of robustness and agility is unique.
This bow is a composite – all by Simon, but the mounts from another bow. There are some signs of use but generally the bow is in excellent condition. More details
Joseph Alfred Lamy Cello Bow, Paris circa 1890
£25,000
Joseph Alfred Lamy (or Lamy Père) stands slightly in the shadow of his teacher and mentor FN Voirin, but his work oozes elegance and finesse. Lamy’s cello bows are particularly fine, with the most beautiful elongated head shape. This is a lovely example in fine condition – deep red round section pernambuco stick, silver and ebony mounts with a plain eye and 3-part adjuster. More details
Hermann Prell Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1910
£8,000
Hermann Prell was a superb Markneukirchen maker who apprenticed with Nürnberger and then famously worked as a journeyman for Sartory. Here we have a beautiful gold-mounted bow of his in excellent condition. More details
James Tubbs Viola Bow, London circa 1890
£15,000
A James Tubbs viola bow is a rare thing – this example is from Tubbs’ middle period and completely typical. It’s a Rolls Royce of a bow, big, opulent and brimming with confidence. It has some signs of use but there are no cracks or damages. More details
Alessandro Carlesso Cello Bow, Brazil 2013
£1,200
Alessandro Carlesso makes superb bows from Brazilian pernambuco – his work is very fine and the wood is outstanding. This bow has a round stick of very dark wood and is silver mounted with an ornamental adjuster.
A very dense stick, giving a lot of power for the weight – not brand new but with minimal wear. More details
James Tubbs Violin Bow, London circa 1890
£12,000
Sometimes I think we should open up a shop just to sell Tubbs bows – we seem to be selling more and more, and it’s great to see this unique maker taking his rightful place. Here we have a very good and typical middle period example in great condition. More details
Auguste Barbé Violin Bow, Paris circa 1890
£10,000
Auguste Barbé worked exclusively for Gand & Bernardel and for this reason is not nearly as well known as he should be. However, his bows are sublte and almost indistinguishable from those of his close colleague FN Voirin. Here we have a lightweight example in top condition. More details
Victor Fétique Viola Bow, Paris circa 1910
£18,500
Victor Fétique bows are a very safe choice – they are beautifully made, they always work, and they have flair! This viola bow is in fantastic condition and the pernambuco has a remarkable flame. The weight and balance are ideal too. More details
FN Voirin Cello Bow, Paris circa 1880
£25,000
FN Voirin is the most highly regarded maker of the late 19th century – his work is particularly admired for its precision and beauty. In spite of their lightness his bows are much in demand for their luminous tone. Here we have a lovely lightweight cello bow, very strong for its weight and in excellent condition. More details
Emile Mennesson Violin, Reims 1876
£12,000
Emile Mennesson was a phenomenally successful maker who used the outside mold system to produce very fine violins in large quantities. This is a very good example of his “Guarini” labelled violins, based on the Stradivari Messiah. More details
Charles JB Collin-Mézin Violin, Paris 1887
£13,500
Collin-Mézin is one of the best known names in the violin trade. 19th century instruments made by CH JB Collin-Mézin offer great tone and great workmanship at an affordable price. More details
Collin-Mézin Violin labelled Giacomelli, Mirecourt 1934
£6,000
Collin-Mézin is pretty much a household name, and their violins are always popular with teachers and students. Here we have a late example with a Giacomelli label, very nicely made, near mint, and with a great sound. More details
François Lotte Viola Bow, Mirecourt circa 1935
£5,000
This is a very handy viola bow made by François Lotte for Collin-Mézin, and bearing their brand. An all-round great player, and in excellent condition – however, the adjuster is nickel and not original to the stick. More details
FN Voirin Violin Bow, Paris circa 1880
£4,500
FN Voirin is close to the top of anyone’s list of makers. Here we are offering 4/5ths of a Voirin, since the upper fifth of the bow is a splice. However, the work is beautiful and the bow still has the special Voirin feeling. More details
Eugène Sartory Violin Bow, Paris circa 1895
£30,000
This is a very fine early Sartory bow in excellent condition from the collection of the renowned Slovenian violinist and pedagogue Igor Ozim. Sartory prices continue to rise at an alarming rate, and well-presered early examples such as this fetch a premium. More details
Hermann Dölling Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1970
Sold
Mounts: silver/ebony
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James Tubbs violin bow, London circa 1910
Sold
Contact us for more information on this James Tubbs violin bow or look for similar violin bows here.
Mounts: silver/ebony
Nicholas Maline Violin Bow, Paris circa 1835
Sold
Contact us for more information on this Nicholas Maline Violin Bow or look for similar violin bows here.
Mounts: nickel/ebony
Paul Bailly Violin, Paris circa 1900
Sold
Contact us for more information on this Paul Bailly Violin or look for similar violins here.
Karel Vávra Violin, Prague 1950
Recently sold
Prague has a long and fine tradition of violin-making, and the early 20th century Prague makers produced some of the best sounding modern violins around. Karel Vávra was a leading maker of this school, and here we have a very fine Guarneri-inspired violin of his from 1950. More details
Alex Smillie Violin, Glasgow circa 1890
Sold
Contact us for more information on this Alex Smillie Violin or look for similar violins here.
Caussin Workshop Violin, Neufchateau circa 1880
Sold
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Sebastian Kloz Violin, Mittenwald circa 1730
Sold
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Alfred Knoll Viola Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1960
Sold
Mounts: gold/ebony
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Charles Nicholas Bazin Viola Bow, Mirecourt circa 1900
Sold
Mounts: silver/ebony
Contact us for more information on this Charles Nicholas Bazin viola bow or look for similar bows here.
Victor Fétique Cello Bow, Paris circa 1930
£18,000
Another lovely cello bow by one of the more reliable 20th century makers. This example is very strong – the condition is excellent apart from a chip in the end of the stick by the adjuster and a bit of repairwork to the back plate. More details
EF&EA Ouchard Violin Bow, Mirecourt circa 1930
£11,000
This is a very fine bow from the EF Ouchard workshop, showing the hand of his supremely talented son EA Ouchard, and branded “Villaume Freres” (a dealership in Nancy). A very strong yet nimble stick, and in great condition barring a few minor scratches. More details
EF Ouchard Viola Bow, Mirecourt circa 1925
£10,000
Emile F Ouchard is a highly underestimated maker, – here we have a great viola bow with the playing qualities so typical of this make – a strong yet very articulate stick, and a broad but focused sound. This is a well used bow with a slight dent behind the head on the audience side, otherwise in excellent condition. More details
James Tubbs Violin Bow, London circa 1885
£12,000
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. Some wear to the handle and the thumb projection, in good condition overall and an excellent player. More details
Victor Fétique Cello Bow, Paris circa 1925
£19,500
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. More details
James Tubbs Violin Bow, London circa 1870
£15,000
Although unbranded, this early Tubbs bow was most likely made for WE Hill & Son. It has all the strong characteristics of Tubbs’ work at this time – it’s very precisely made using beautiful and heavily flamed pernambuco. The condition is outstanding. More details
James Tubbs Violin Bow, London circa 1895
£13,500
This is a classic middle period Tubbs bow in excellent condition. The pernambuco has a dramatic flame and the pearl eye is unusually bold – very appealing to look at and a great player too. More details
James Tubbs/WE Hill Violin Bow, London circa 1880
£12,000
This is a fine early period James Tubbs, made for Hills and bearing their brand on both sides of the handle. Unusually light in colour for a Tubbs – some minor condition issues but otherwise a stunning bow from this great if erratic maker. More details
Alecio Reis Violin Bow, Brazil/UK 2014
£800
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 … More details
Joseph Arthur Vigneron Violin Bow, Paris circa 1895
£18,000
Joseph-Arthur Vigneron is another of the great names in French bow-making. Like so many of the better late 19th century makers he worked for Gand & Bernardel before setting up on his own. He developed his own very successful model, rather more masculine than Voirin or Lamy, always beautifully proportioned. More details
Jean Joseph Martin Violin Bow, Paris circa 1870
£12,000
Jean Martin was one of the extraordinary team of makers assembled by JB Vuillaume, and his bows very often follow the Vuillaume model. This is a more personal creation with a distinctive head – very unusually it bears an authentic Dominique Peccatte brand. The bow is in near perfect condition. More details
Dominique Peccatte Viola Bow, Paris circa 1845
Price on application
Dominique Peccatte is one of the greatest French makers, second only to FX Tourte in the eyes of the world. Here we have a very rare viola bow in near mint condition, very strong and perfectly weighted. The original plain ebony mounts are supplied with the bow. More details
A French Violin Bow, Mirecourt circa 1890
£2,000 On trial
This is a very attractive French violin bow made in Mirecourt, branded J Hel a Lille. It’s in fine condition and it draws an excellent sound. More details
Victor Fétique Violin Bow, Paris circa 1920
£16,000
This is an unusually beautiful Victor Fétique in great condition. Made with spectacularly flamed wood, and a great player into the bargain. More details
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