Charles Peccatte Violin Bow, Paris circa 1900

Charles Peccatte is an exceptional maker whos bows are relatively poorly known. Here we have a very nice example – a musician’s bow with great playing quaities worthy of the Peccatte name

Charles Peccatte was the son of François Peccatte and the nephew of Dominique Peccatte. Like his uncle Dominique he spent time in the Vuillaume shop, the training ground for most of the great 19th century bowmakers.

Charles Peccatte’s later work is quite distinctive, solidly proportioned and with a rather daring upright profile to the front of the head. He was rightly proud of his heritage, often branding his bows on both sides of the handle as we see here – incidentally the brand he used is the original Dominique Peccatte brand, which eventually found its way into the hands of JJ Martin!

The stick is of octagonal section speckled orange-brown pernambuco, mounts are silver and ebony.

The condition is exemplary – a few little marks to the stick but otherwise nothing to report.

This is a lovely bow for a player – quite modern in its styling but with a sound palette and a responsiveness more rooted in the 19th century. In fact it sounds and feels quite like a Dominique Peccatte – the tone is at once fat and zingy, the response supple yet meaty. Great attack, a big legato. but also an ability to carve fine detail in to the music.

To me this bow feels like a great all-rounder. It would sit well in the hands of an orchestral professional – it produces a big blending tone with minimal effort, but it can jump to attention when needed.