Eugene Sartory Violin Bow, Paris circa 1892

This is a rare Sartory bow from the maker’s first period – it’s a bow with a gorgeous feel and a big fruity sound, currently in very good condition.

Eugène Sartory was quite precocious, setting up under his own name at the tender age of 18. For the first few years of his independent working life he used the brand that we find on this bow – on the basis of the brand and the degree of stylistic evolution, we can deduce that the date of manufacture was around 1892.

It’s amazing to think how accomplished Sartory had already become by the age of 21 (ish) – the craftsmanship in this bow is faultless, the materials are first class, and the playability too.

The stick is of dark red veined pernambuco of excellent quality, round in section. Mounts are silver and ebony.

The condition is exemplary – there’s a bit of wear to the handle, the thumb projection is very lightly rounded off on the player’s side, otherwise there are no issues.

Early Sartorys can be quite variable in weight and in wood properties, but this bow is very mainstream. Weight and balance are ideal, and the stick offers a perfect combination of resistance and warmth of sound.

This is a bow which makes the sound for you – there’s no need to sweat, no need to saw madly at the fiddle as if trying to start a fire. It’s just effortlessly powerful and full-bodied – the stick is slightly supple but very stable, still stiff enough for off-the-string pyrotechnics.

In brief, a profoundly satisfying bow with a very 19th century character, and a bow in which Sartory achieves his full potential.