Cello Bows

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→

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→

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→

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→

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→

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→

Eugène Sartory is probably the most popular maker of all time, and his bows are the mainstay of professional musicians the world over. Here we have a very fine cello stick from his best period, very well preserved and of an ideal weight. The mounts are well-fitting copies, probably made for the bow. More details→

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→