For sale

Louis Thomassin Cello Bow, Paris circa 1895

£17,500

This is a rare cello bow by Louis Thomassin, co-worker and successor to FN Voirin. It’s a beautiful example of his work and in fine condition. More details→

Marcel Lapierre Viola Bow, Mirecourt circa 1950

£5,250

This is a particularly nice example of Marcel Lapierre’s work – made with unusually fine wood, and with excellent playing qualities. More details→

Jean Persoit Violin Bow, Paris circa 1830

£27,000

Jean Persoit is one of the most hallowed names in bow-making, really the only maker to rival FX Tourte. Here we have a restored example that is nonetheless quite beautiful and an outstanding player’s bow. More details→

EF&EA Ouchard Violin Bow, Mirecourt circa 1925

£12,000

Here is another showing “collaboration” bow, made in the workshop of EF Ouchard but 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.
More details→

WE Hill & Son Violin Bow, William Johnston circa 1900

£11,500

Everyone is familiar with the quality of Hill bows – here we have a very early silver and ivory example from around 1900 bearing the maker’s mark of William Johnston (first mark with vertical nicks). The sound is first class and the condition is unusually good. More details→

Mars Auguste Husson Violin Bow, Paris circa 1925

£15,000

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. More details→

Joseph Lafleur Violin Bow, Paris circa 1830

£35,000

Lafleur is one of the great names in French bow-making, and this is a very fine early example of his work. Contemporary bow-makers would kill or maim to get their hands on this quality of pernambuco, dense, veined and beautifully flamed. The head is very artistic, a bell-like model which Pierre Simon championed in his work. Typical frog with 2-piece heel-plate, one single pin in the centre of the back plate. More details→

Hermann Prell Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1920

£4,750

This is the second bow we have by Hermann Prell, whose main claim to fame was the fact that he worked briefly for Sartory. Here we have a fine silver-mounted example in unblemished condition, and a great all-round player. More details→

WE Hill & Son Violin Bow, London 1959

£12,000

There are Hill bows and Hill bows … and this is about as good as you can get, a chased gold and tortoiseshell fleur de lys bow in mint condition. And it plays! More details→

WE Hill & Son Violin Bow, London 1957

£8,000

This is a fine gold mounted Hill bow from 1957, the stick made by Arthur Copley. It’s in immaculate condition and its playing qualities are quintessentially Hill – unpretentious and utterly reliable! More details→

HR Pfretzschner Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1920

£8,250

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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Stephane Muller Viola Bow, Toulouse circa 1990

£5,250

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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Jean Joseph Martin Violin Bow for JB Vuillaume, Paris circa 1870

£20,000

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. More details→

Francois Peccatte Violin Bow, Paris circa 1845

£45,000

François Peccatte, brother of Dominique, is a maker whose star is in the ascendant. His preference for nickel and for unusual woods has to some extent obscured the quality of his making, but this bow is stunning. More details→

G B Gaibisso Violin, Alassio 1949

£47,500

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. More details→

Alfred Tubbs Violin Bow, London circa 1915

£12,000

This is an exceptional bow by Alf Tubbs, dedicated to the 1900 the winner of the Stainer Prize, Dora Robins. Slightly short and light, what was described at the time as a “ladies’ bow”, nonetheless a terrific player and a uniquely collectable Tubbs. More details→

JA Vigneron Violin Bow, Paris circa 1895

£17,500

Joseph Arthur Vigneron is for me something of an unsung hero. His bows are great musician’s tools, not refined like Voirin but still exceptionally well made. Here we have a fine example in excellent condition, also an outstanding player. More details→

Paolo De Barbieri Violin, Genoa 1946

£52,500

Paolo de Barbieri is a highly respected maker, and a leading figure in the modern Geonese school. For most of his life he produced copies of the del Gesu Cannone, which was gifted to the city of Genoa by Paganini and can still be seen in the Palazzo Tursi. This violin is an unusually attractive example with a rich golden varnish and an outstanding concert tone. More details→

Eugène Sartory Violin Bow, Paris circa 1915

£47,500

This is a spectacular gold mounted Sartory in excellent condition, and with the playing qualities you would expect from this maker’s best work. More details→

JS Finkel Viola Bow circa 1990

£950

A very good Finkel “Lefin” viola bow, around 25-30 years old but in perect condition. It plays unusually well for the price, with a rounded, muscular tone and easy control off the string. More details→

Johannes Franciscus Cuypers (II) Violin, Amsterdam circa 1840

£32,500

Johannes Franciscus Cuypers (II) was the last in a long line of Dutch makers. All Cuypers instruments share very similar traits, and all are highly prized for their superb tonal qualities. This is a lovely and fine sounding example in great condition. More details→

Eugène Sartory Cello Bow, Paris circa 1910 (mounts not original)

£28,000

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→

Michael Taylor Viola Bow, Ealing Strings 1989

£5,000

This is a very fine Peccatte model viola bow made by Michael Taylor for Ealing Strings. The property of a professional player, it’s in excellent condition and draws a big sound. More details→

A Mittenwald Violin circa 1870

£4,000

This is a good Mittenwald violin of the Neuner and Hornsteiner type, with a typical deep red varnish that’s slightly craquelled. More details→

A Mittenwald Small Viola circa 1830

£5,000

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. More details→

Dominique Peccatte Violin Bow, Paris circa 1845

£80,000

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. The frog is also Dominique Peccatte but from another bow, and the price reflects this. More details→

Rodolfo Fredi Violin, Rome 1927

£50,000

Rodolfo Fredi was a prolific and successful maker. He produced violins of variying qualities – the better instruments are beautifully made and tonally outstanding. This example is his best quality of work, currently in excellent condition. More details→

Jacques-Pierre Thibout Violin, Paris 1825

£45,000

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. More details→

James Steele Violin, London 1924

£6,000

This is a lovely English violin in the tradition of Joseph Chanot. It’s in pretty much flawless condition and the sound is just great. More details→

Günter Paulus Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1980

£1,850

Günter Paulus belongs to a large family of bow-makers stretching back to the 19th century. We have sold a number of his bows – all have been of the highest quality and excellent players. More details→

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→

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→

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→

François Nicolas Voirin Viola Bow, Paris circa 1880

£28,000

FN Voirin is one of the greatest names in bow-making. Although his bows haven’t become a currency in the way that Sartory bows have, he is generally regarded as the better maker. While his bows are inevitably lighter, they have unparalleled elegance and are renowned for their quality of sound. 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→

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→

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 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→

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→

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→

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→

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→

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→

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→

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→

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→

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→

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→

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 1870

£13,000

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 though the adjuster is from another bow of the period. 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

£9,500

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→

Michael Taylor Violin Bow for Ealing Strings, London 1989

£4,750

Michael Taylor is a great contemporary maker who spent most of his working life at Ealing Strings. Now living and working in Spain, Michael continues to make bows of unusual beauty. More details→

Hippolyte Camille Lamy Violin Bow, Paris circa 1920

£16,000

This is a typically elegant bow by HC Lamy (Fils), very close in style to the work of his father Joseph Alfred Lamy, and in excellent condition. More details→

HR Pfretzschner Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1960

£4,500

An exceptional gold mounted HR Pfretzschner violin bow in near perfect condition – and a big sound. More details→

Jean-François Aldric Violin, Paris 1835

£52,500

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. More details→

Michael Albani Violin, Bolzano circa 1720

£20,000

The Albani family played a huge role in the development of violin-making, and yet their instruments are rarely seen. This violin is a very interesting example, following very closely on the work of Matthias but made by his son Michael. Always more successful tonally than Stainer (the other Tyrolean), this violin is no exception. More details→

WE Hill & Son Viola Bow, London circa 1920

£16,000

This is a top of the range Hill viola bow in gold and ivory dating from 1937 – it’s in great condition and it plays beautifully. More details→

Giovanni Schwarz Small Viola, Venice 1913

£25,000

Giovanni Schwarz was the nephew and apprentice of Eugenio Degani. This instrument bears an authentic Degani label, but it’s signed by Schwarz. Is it a Degani or a Schwarz? Quite a tricky conundrum, but either way a very fine Venetian small viola with an outstanding sound. More details→

Small Viola probably by Francesco Maurizi , Appignano circa 1840

£35,000

Francesco Maurizi is a relatively obscure maker from the Marche region of central Italy. His violins are much admired for their quality of sound, though the construction can be quite hurried. This viola is a great example, with an unusually deep and noble sound for its size. More details→

Nürnberger Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1930

£8,500

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. More details→

WE Hill & Son Violin Bow, London 1959

£5,000

This is a superb Hill bow in mint condition, date stamped under the frog. It’s an excellent player with a strong yet lively stick. More details→

Eugène Sartory Violin Bow, Paris circa 1910

£26,500

Eugène Sartory remains the most popular bowmaker amongst professional musicians, and the value of his bows continues to rise at an alarming rate! This is a fine early example with excellent playing qualities. More details→

Eugène Sartory Violin Bow, Paris circa 1900

£32,500

This is a unique early Sartory bow in superb condition – it’s a highly collectable bow but it also has a unique clarity of tone. More details→

Joseph Henry Violin Bow, Paris circa 1860

£28,500

Joseph Henry is in my opinion the greatest maker of the Peccatte school. This bow has a replacement frog and is quite worn, but it’s an exceptional player. More details→

Paul Weidhaas Cello Bow for Victor Fétique circa 1930

£5,000

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. More details→

Bausch Cello Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1920

£4,500

A good cello bow from the Bausch workshop, dating from the early 1900s. More details→

Charles Gaillard Violin, Paris 1853

£30,000

French violin-making in the 19th century has been dominated by the Vuillaume shop, but there are numerous makers at this time who produced more beautiful and more individual work. Gaillard is one of these, and this is a great example with a lustrous varnish and an outstanding concert tone. More details→

HR Pfretzschner Violin Bow, Markneukirchen circa 1940

£3,250

It’s great to see the violin world finally waking up to the qualities of good German bows. There is absolutely no difference in quality of work or playability between fine French and German bows, and this Pfretzschner proves the point perfectly. Very elegant, made with superb materials, and a joy to use. More details→

Charles Maucotel Violin, London 1851

£60,000

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. More details→

Dominique Peccatte Violin Bow, Paris circa 1840

£110,000

Dominique Peccatte occupies a unique place in the history of bow-making. While Tourte commands the highest prices, Peccatte brought the bow to a state of modernity which remains the archetype to this day. This is an unusually fine and rare example with an open frog and wood-to-wood mounts, but currently sporting a gold copy frog and button. More details→

Célestin Emile Clasquin Violin Bow, Paris circa 1930

£3,750

A lovely French bow from one of the less well known makers of the early 20th century – very similar to EF Ouchard in style, also in feel. Robust yet quick on the draw, and pulling a big rounded tone. More details→

Louis Morizot Violin Bow, Mirecourt circa 1925

£7,000

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. More details→

Jan Kulik Violin, Prague circa 1850

£18,000

Jan Kulik is perhaps the most refined maker of the Prague school. His violins are very individual, artistic and yet precise. This is a fine example with a superb sound, loosely based on a Gragnani and carrying a Gragnani label. More details→