Louis Thomassin Violin Bow, Paris circa 1890

This is a very interesting Tourte copy bow by Louis Thomassin – it’s a rare example and a fantastic player.

Louis Thomassin isn’t a well-known name, proincipally because much of his working life was spent as apprentice and assistant to FN Voirin. Indeed he made many authentic Voirin-stamped bows after the master’s death which were sold by Voirin’s widow. So in spite of being an accomplished and industrious maker, there are only 12-13 years of production in which Thomassin used his own brand.

This bow lies well outside the traditions of its time – a Tourte inspired model with an octagonal stick and a half pearl back plate. One gets the sense that after 20 years of Voirin, Louis Thomassin was desperate to break out!

The stick is of octagonal section orange brown pernambuco of exceptional quality, chosen to emulate Tourte’s own wood selection – it has a dramatic random figure. Mounts are silver and ebony.

The condition is near-mint and there are no signs of wear.

I don’t suppose anyone could say exactly what makes a bow work – for me the greatest test of a bow is that there’s no weakness or noticeable negative quality, and that everything is in balance and feels harmonious. It should be an extension of the player’s hand, it should accentuate the feeling of control and aid in the difficult endeavour of producing a beautiful tone.

When I go through the characteristics of this bow I find it has everything I look for and nothing that I would avoid. Weight and balance are ideal, the spring is just right, it has excellent traction, the tone is full and rounded with a nice sparkle on top. It’s neither heavy nor light, dark nor bright, supple nor stiff – just a perfectly realised bow, a willing and unassuming partner.