Jean Baptiste Vuillaume Violin, Paris circa 1839
This is an outstanding Stradivari model violin by Jean Baptiste Vuillaume dating from around 1840. It’s in very good condition – the sound is powerful, brilliant and solistic.
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This is an outstanding Stradivari model violin by Jean Baptiste Vuillaume dating from around 1840. It’s in very good condition – the sound is powerful, brilliant and solistic.
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This is a very fine early Gand & Bernardel violin. It’s in exemplary condition with no cracks or damage, and the sound is big and beautiful.
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This is a fine Neapolitan violin by Giuseppe Gagliano, the most talented son of Nicolo Gagliano. It’s a superb sounding concert instrument in excellent restored condition.
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Karel Pilař is the most respected member of this important Czech violin-making family – here we have a beautiful example of his early work in near-perfect condition.
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This is a beautifully preserved example of the work of Christian Wilhelm Seidel, an accomplished Markneukirchen maker of the mid 19th century. It’s a very flat model with a brilliant and carrying sound.
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An unusually fine example of this maker’s work, this violin is in perfect condition and sounds tremendous.
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A beautifully preserved example of the work of Heinrich Th. Heberlein from 1927, this is Markneukirchen violin-making at its best. The violin is illustrated in Bruce Babbitt’s book “Markneukirchen Violins And Bows”.
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This is a very fine and rare gold and tortoiseshell mounted cello bow by Franz Albert Nürnberger jun. (1854-1931), the most talented member of this important German family.
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A near-mint condition WE Hill & Sons viola bow in chased gold and ebony, the stick by John Clutterbuck (1970).
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This is a very attractive violin bow from the Morizot workshop, made around 1950 and in excellent condition.
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This is an outstanding Persoit violin bow with exceptional sound and handling. Currently fitted with copy frog and button, but supplied with the original open frog and ivory button.
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This is a great Joseph Arthur Vigneron from around 1900 – it’s a strong but supple stick with a big sound, and the condition is very good.
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This is a beautiful gold mounted Tubbs bow in excellent condition – it’s a superb playing bow with a unique buttery sound.
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This is a remarkable early gold mounted bow by Etienne Pajeot, perhaps the most fascinating and innovative of all French makers. It’s an exceptional playing bow – the frog has some restoration but the stick is very well preserved.
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This is an early JA Lamy viola bow made on a Vuillaume model, relatively lightweight but very strong, and in great condition.
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Eugène Sartory commands a unique level of respect amongst musicians. Here we have a fine example from what is arguably his best period, in excellent condition and with a big rounded sound.
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This is an exceptional gold and tortoiseshell mounted ‘fleur de lys’ Hill bow from the 1920s – in mint condition, beautifully balanced with a strong yet responsive stick.
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An excellent Mirecourt violin with a fine tone, rather better than your average Collin-Mézin! Lovely size and in near perfect condition.
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Alfred Vincent is one of our favourite makers, and we’re delighted to have a viola of his on offer. It’s a big sounding instrument, well used but entirely free of cracks or repairs.
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This is an interesting and historic viola by the Austro-Hungarian maker Carl Zach. Given by Zach to the great Czech violist František Ondříček, it has a clear line of provenance. It’s a fine solistic instrument in an excellent state of preservation.
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We are always on the lookout for great sounding small violas and this English instrument from the late 18th century is particularly successful. A broad and bold model made in the circle of Richard Duke, it has a rich and powerful tone.
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Gand & Bernardel were the pre-eminent French violin-makers of the late 19th century. Here we have a great sounding violin made by them in 1885 and still in outstanding condition.
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This is a very nice bow by Eugene Cuniot, known as “Cuniot-Hury” – in very good condition and an excellent player.
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This is a very fine silver-mounted FN Voirin in mint condition – unlike many better preserved Voirins, it’s a strong stick of an ideal weight.
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Another lovely example of EA Ouchard’s work, this bow is from his best period, it’s very well preserved and it’s a treat to play.
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This is a very pure JA Lamy violin bow, near-mint and retaining its original lapping and thumb leather. And of course it plays beautifully (or we wouldn’t be offering it for sale)…
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This is an exceptional decorated gold and tortoiseshell violin bow by EA Ouchard. It’s in near-mint condition and is one of the finest 20th century violin bows we have seen.
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This is an interesting early Hill bow, probably the work of William Napier. The condition is excellent and the playability very typical of early Hills, strong yet supple.
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Here’s another very fine early Hill bow in silver and ebony – it’s a Tourte model with a round stick, the condition is great and it plays beautifully.
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François Peccatte was the younger brother of Dominique, and their work shares many points of style. The exact working relationship isn’t documented, but François was 11 years younger, and it’s assumed that he apprenticed with Dominique in Paris.
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This is a great early James Tubbs viola bow made for WE Hill whose brand it bears on the stick and the frog. It’s in a very fine state of preservation and it’s an unusually versatile player.
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This is a violin by one of the most respected English makers of the 20th century, George Wulme Hudson. It’s a brilliant sounding violin suitable for a budding soloist, and in excellent condition.
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Joseph Alfred Lamy was one of the great makers of the late 19th century – this violin bow is a strong player and in unusually fine condition.
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This is a fine and very 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-preserved early examples such as this fetch a premium.
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This is a very attractive viola bow by Garner Wilson, one of the many great British makers who came out of the Hill shop. The condition is near-mint.
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This is a very fine Peccatte model violin bow by one of the most popular mid-20th century French makers.
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We always try to keep a few bows by Ouchard Père in stock. His work is very dependable and quite undervalued.
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This is a very nicely preserved viola bow by Joseph Henry, perhaps the most reliable maker of the Peccatte school. It’s a phenomenal sounding bow with a big velvety tone.
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This is a superb early Sartory viola bow in excellent condition – a beautifully balanced stick with very fine playing qualities.
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This is a very fine viola bow by James Tubbs, in an excellent state of preservation and with a huge and luminous tone.
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This is an unusually fine Hill bow from the collection of the late Bill Watson. It’s in pristine condition and it’s a spectacular player.
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This is a very nice violin bow from the Bausch workshop, made around 1920. It’s in excellent condition and it’s a great all-rounder for a young student.
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This is a unique and highly collectable Vuillaume shop bow made by Charles Peccate. It has its original silk lapping, and the frog has a Stanhope lens with a micro-photo of JB Vuillaume.
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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.
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Bill Watson (1930-2018) was a much loved elder statesman of British bow-making. This fine cello bow was made some 20 years ago but has remained unused until now.
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This is a very attractive and excellent-sounding violin from the Venetian maker Eugenio Degani. It has some restoration, the scroll is later, and it’s priced accordingly.
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This is a remarkable and intriguing del Gesu fake, most likely the work of TJ Holder. It’s a beautiful violin with a first class sound, but I don’t suppose we will ever know for sure who made it.
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EA Ouchard is probably the greatest of 20th century French makers, and this is a lovely example in silver. Made for Georges Coné in Lyon, it’s in excellent condition and a spectacular player as you’d expect from this maker.
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This is a very fine FN Voirin stick with replacement frog and button. Voirin bows are renowned for their luminous sound, and this is a great example at an affordable price.
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August Rau (1866-1951) is an important maker in the history of German bows. This is a very nice example of his higher quality of bow – the condition is very good, and the sound is big, warm and fruity.
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This is an exceptional Dominique Peccatte viola bow in near mint condition – no wear whatsoever, all the silver is original, as is the ivory face. A very handsome example for a collector or a soloist.
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This is another great bow from the Nürnberger workshop, probably Franz Albert circa 1925 – made on quite an unusual model with a very refined head and distinctive adjuster. It’s a strong and full-sounding bow with some minor condition issues.
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Claude Thomassin is a maker whose star is rising rapidly, and we are always delighted to offer his bows. Here we have a fine viola bow in excellent condition – it’s a powerful stick with a powerful sound.
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This is a very beautiful smaller viola by perhaps the most under-rated French maker, ASP Bernardel. As always with this maker, the workmanship and the sound are of the highest quality.
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This is a near mint violin bow by Claude Thomassin, still one of the most under-rated of 20th century makers. It’s a highly collectable example but also a great bow for a musician.
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This is a lovely middle period James Tubbs cello bow in excellent condition.
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Jean Joseph 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.
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This is a very nice Vuillaume model bow made by JJ Martin around 1885. Branded “J. Guarini”, it’s a very fine example of this maker’s work – it has a powerful stick with a big bright sound.
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Eugène Sartory enjoys an unrivalled popularity amongst musicians. Here we have an outstanding bow from his best period – it’s in mint condition and plays like a dream.
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Ferdinand Gagliano (1738-1804) was the son of Nicolo and nephew of Gennaro. His violins have always been appreciated for their excellent tonal qualities – this example has exceptional clarity and projection.
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Giovanni Grancino is the most respected maker of the Milanese school. This example is built on a grand Amati pattern, and it’s a first class concert instrument.
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This is a very fine example of the work of Giovanni Lucchi – it’s a very powerful bow with a fantastic crunchy sound, and it’s in mint condition.
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This is a fine example of the work of Johann Wilhelm Knopf in near mint condition – a real collector’s piece and an exciting player too.
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In our opinion Joseph Arthur Vigneron is one of the best makers of the late 19th century and his bows always seem to work. This is a lovely example in great condition, unusually refined and responsive.
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Another great cello bow from one of the less well known Vuillaume makers, Jean “Grand” Adam. A very attractive bow showing hardly any signs of use over its 150 year life, it makes quite an impression.
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This viola is one of the finest examples of the work of Charles Brugère in existence. The condition is near mint and the sound is warm and responsive.
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Here’s another lovely Salsedo violin from 1928, slightly bigger and bolder than the other example we have. The main difference is that it’s red not yellow…
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Charles Nicolas Bazin is a great maker whose work is still highly undervalued. This is a lovely cello bow in excellent condition, the property of a professional orchestral player.
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Eugenio Degani is one of the most recognizable of modern Italian makers. His violins are always refined and stylish. Here we have a wonderful sounding example in perfect condition.
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We sell antique violins suitable for students through a network of violin teachers around the world – from Latvia to Los Angeles. If you are a teacher and would like to work with us please get in touch.
We sell antique violin bows suitable for students through a network of violin teachers around the world – from Latvia to Los Angeles. If you are a teacher and would like to work with us please get in touch.
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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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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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 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 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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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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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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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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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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Here we have a near-mint Carl Albert Nürnberger, a splendid, austere looking bow with a big fruity sound.
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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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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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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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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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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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This is a very good violin by Paul Bailly, one of the select group of makers to have worked for JB Vuillaume. It’s a very attractive instrument in great condition, with a full and responsive sound.
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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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Marcel Lapierre is a highly under-rated French maker, and his bows represent exceptional value for money. This is a well preserved example with great playing qualities.
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Here is another “collaboration” bow, made in the workshop of EF Ouchard but showing the hand of his son EA Ouchard. Made for Lucien Schmidt of Grenoble, this is a very high quality stick with an excellent playing character. Very good condition too.
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This is a very fine and rare ivory-mounted bow by Auguste Husson, a Parisian maker of the early 20th century. It’s in excellent condition and is a top class player.
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This is a fine gold mounted Hill bow from 1957, the stick made by Arthur Copley. It’s in excellent condition and its playing qualities are quintessentially Hill – unpretentious and utterly reliable!
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This is a rare and exquisite gold and tortoiseshell HR Pfretzschner from around 1920. It’s in excellent condition and it plays beautifully with a muscular warm sound.
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This is a beautifully made viola bow by contemporary French maker Stéphane Muller, bearing the serial number 9589. The wood is outstanding, the condition is very good, and the sound is bold and solistic.
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This is a very nice Vuillaume bow made by JJ Martin around 1870. Built on a typcial Vuillaume model, it’s a very attractive bow with a huge sound.
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This is a beautiful modern Italian violin by GB Gaibisso, a lesser known but very talented Ligurian maker. It’s in perfect condition and has a great sound.
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This is a very attractive small viola made in Mittenwald in the early 1800s. It’s in good condition and it has surprisingly warm and full sound.
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Dominique Peccatte bows are highly prized for their playing qualities, and this one is a dream, strong yet supple in a uniquely 19th century way.
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Jacques-Pierre Thibout is perhaps the most artistic of the Parisian makers. He was a contemporary of Nicholas Lupot, and if he had made faithful Strad copies rather than pursuing his own model he would probably be the better known maker. Here we have a beautiful example in immaculate condition – definitely the finest Thibout I have seen and the best sounding too.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 subtle and almost indistinguishable from those of his close colleague FN Voirin. Here we have a lightweight example in top condition.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Jean-François Aldric is one of the great names in French making, of the same generation as Lupot and Pique. In his later years he made superb Stradivari copies modelled on originals which he obtained from Luigi Tarisio, and our violin is one of these – a very faithful Strad copy displaying exquisite workmanship, with a real concert sound.
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Jean (Grand) Adam is the best known and most highly valued of the Adam makers. He worked in the prestigious Vuillaume shop, but his bows are most often compared to those of FX Tourte.
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This is an unusually fine gold and ebony mounted bow from the Nürnberger shop, probably the work of Philipp Paul Nürnberger. It’s a beautiful example of the higher-end production of this workshop.
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Paul Weidhaas is one of the most respected of early 20th century German bow-makers. Here we have a fine cello bow made in the French style, and in unusually pristine condition.
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A good cello bow from the Bausch workshop, dating from the early 1900s.
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Etienne Pajeot is one of the great early French makers, and his bows are highly sought after for their excellent technical qualities. This is a relatively rare early cello bow in good condition.
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Charles Maucotel was the first of the Parisian makers to come to London. A tremendous yet relatively unknown maker, here we have a beautiful del Gesu copy of his in excellent condition, and with a first class sound.
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Louis Morizot’s main claim to fame is his association with Sartory, yet he’s a great maker in his own right. Under his sons, the family name became rather associated with mass production and clunky student bows, but at the time this bow was made, a Morizot was a thing of great refinement and beauty.
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Joseph Calot is a fascinating figure in the history of violin-making. He is best known as a Turin maker for his association/collaboration with Pressenda, but he was also an apprentice in the workshop of Nicholas Lupot, and our violin is a bold variation on Lupot’s Paris style. This is a perfectly preserved example of Calot’s Parisian work, showing exceptional ability.
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The workshops of Marc Laberte produced a huge range of instruments and bows in the early 20th century – their silver-mounted bows are of consistently high quality.
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Nicolas Maline is an important figure from the Golden period of French bow-making. Although he worked for Vuillaume, he appears to have spent his entire working life in Mirecourt – his work is unique and distinctive, and of the highest quality.
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