Victor Fetique Violin Bow, Paris 1924

Here we have another exceptional Victor Fetique violin bow made for the Brussels Expo of 1924. This one has a round stick – it’s supremely stable and draws a big warm sound.

Victor Fétique is one of the most popular makers of the early 20th century – his work is always reliable, orthodox, and of very high quality.

This example is particularly fine as it was made for the Brussels 1924 Exhibition – makers submitting to these exhibitions put special effort into their bows and used the finest materials.

This bow has a round stick of beautiful orange-brown pernambuco, slightly veined and with a random figure. Mounts are silver and ebony.

The condition of the bow is near-mint – there’s one tiny dunt in the stick and some almost imperceptible wear to the top facet of the handle, otherwise everything is as crisp as the day it was made.

Technically I can’t fault this bow – it’s powerful yet responsive, reliable and comfortable yet also full of life. The sound is big and rounded with a hint of coffee grounds and with plenty of high frequency sparkle. The stick is supremely controllable both on and off the string.
Very much the best kind of bow of its period, and equal any Sartory or EA Ouchard.