Victor Fetique Violin Bow, Paris circa 1925

This is a classic middle period Victor Fétique violin bow – it’s in excellent condition and it draws a huge sound.

Victor Fétique is perhaps the most mainstream of the French makers of the early 20th century. He made little attempt to be original, preferring to produce large quantities of utterly dependable bows. If he had lived longer and enjoyed better health he would surely have rivalled Sartory since their production is similar in its unwavering focus and quality.

This bow is a very typical example, crisp and confident, just the right side of chunky!

The stick is of octagonal section mid-brown speckled pernambuco, mounts are silver and ebony with a rounded heel to the frog.

The condition is exemplary with very few signs of use.

This is a great bow – the sound is big, bold and broad spectrum, and the stick is beautifully balanced. It will sail through any technical challenge, off the string contact is exceptional, and a broad legato is easy to achieve.

There’s not much song and dance to a good Fétique, it just does everything well.

Positive, confident, richly musical.