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Violin Bows
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Click on the image for more detailed photos |
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J. B. VUILLAUME a PARIS, Paris, circa 1850
 From the Vuillaume shop, this is one of the finest bows we have ever offered for sale. The silver mounted tortoise shell frog and adjuster are careful copies of the originals made by Reid Hudson. The original fittings are included with this bow. The round stick of exceptional wood shows a head finished with impressive skill and bears the original ivory tip face. 63 grams; balance point: 24 cm. |
on request |
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Unstamped bow by J.J. Martin, Paris, circa 1860
This silver mounted bow has a round supple stick and is typical of the bows that Martin made for the Vuillaume shop, featuring the Vuillaume style frog with its beveled ferrule and rounded lining. There is a small repair to the tip of the ivory tip face and the wire grip is not original. Otherwise in very good condition. Sold with a certificate by Jean-Francois Raffin of Paris, January 19, 2009. 59.5 grams; balance point: 24 cm. |
$20,000 |
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Unbranded violin bow by James Tubbs, circa 1870
 Sold with a certificate by Reid Hudson. This is a fine example of an early bow by James Tubbs in surprisingly good condition. The stick is dark, supple and moderately strong. The characteristic Tubbs style head is faced with ivory rather than the silver which is most often seen in his later bows. The silver mounted frog is rounded at the back and is decorated with mother of pearl dots. 59 grams; balance point: 24.5 cm. |
$12,000 |
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W.E.HILL & SONS
~ SOLD ~ This fine gold and tortoise shell mounted bow from the Hill shop was made in 1962 and apppears virtually unplayed. It comes to us from the estate of a collector and is finely made and perfectly weighted and balanced. Sold with a certificate by Reid Hudson. 60 grams; balance point: 24 cm. |
$9,500 |
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JAS.TUBBS, circa 1880
~ SOLD ~ James Tubbs likely made this excellent bow after he left the Hill shop as he branded it with his name, but before he stopped putting pearl dots in his frogs. It has been much played and loved and recently had a small restoration to the frog including a new mother of pearl slide. The dark round pernambucco stick has a silver tip face and a new silver wire grip. Sold with a certificate by Reid Hudson. 60 grams; balance point: 24.5 cm. |
$9,500 |
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P. BLANCHARD À LYON
~ SOLD ~ This beautiful well-balanced and strong bow comes with a certificate stating it to be the work of C.N.Bazin of Mirecourt. 60 grams. |
$8,500 |
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M. LAPIERRE
Marcel La Pierre was a good bow maker who established himself in Paris in 1947. This bow is stamped under the frog “1959”, the year it was made. The strong octagonal stick is of beautiful red-brown wood, substantial at the balance point and supple behind the head. The silver mounted frog is of very black fine grained ebony. The silver ferrule has been replaced, otherwise the bow is in very good original condition. 60.5 grams; balance point: 24.5 cm. |
$7,500 |
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REID HUDSON
 The strong round stick of this gold mounted violin bow by Reid Hudson offers the player excellent strength and flexability with excellent weight and balance. The tip face is of mammoth ivory while the grip is of imitation whalebone. The frog and adjuster are of ebony mounted with gold. 60.5 grams; balance point: 24 cm. See www.reidhudson.com. |
$6,000 |
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REID HUDSON
Reid Hudson studied bow making with Joseph Kun before moving to Vancouver Island in 1980. This gold mounted bow is one of his finest and features a strong octagonal stick, ivory tip face and whalebone grip. The gold mounted ebony frog has a parisian eye. 60.5 grams; balance point: 24.5 cm. See www.reidhudson.com. |
$6,000 |
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REID HUDSON
Reid’s gold bows have been very popular with customers. This beautiful bow has a fine round stick, real whalebone lapping and a gold tip face. The frog is of dark amber-coloured tortoise shell mounted with gold and holds great beauty. New condition. 59 grams; balance point: 25 cm. See www.reidhudson.com. |
$6,000 |
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REID HUDSON
~ SOLD ~ This gold and tortoise shell bow is a copy of a fine 19th century bow by Dominique Peccatte and is a departure from Reid’s earlier bows. The frog is higher, shorter and narrower and the graduation of the stick completely different as well. A fascinating bow. 60 grams; balance point: 23.5 cm. See www.reidhudson.com. |
$6,000 |
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Faintly branded gold mounted violin bow
The faint brand on this fine old bow is illegible, and it may be that the gold mountings are not original. It also appears that the ivory tip face is a replacement and there is no lining under the frog. This is a fine playing beautiful bow in excellent condition. 60 grams; balance point: 23 cm. |
$5,800 |
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G. CONÉ&FILS À LYON
A fine violin bow attributed to the Mirecourt shop of Charles Alfred Bazin circa 1950 for the firm of George Coné & Fils, violin dealers in Lyon. The strong and slender octagonal stick is in excellent condition, though the ivory tip face has been replaced as well as the grip. The silver mounted ebony frog and adjuster are in very good original condition with minor wear. 62 grams; balance point: 25 cm. |
$5,500 |
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CUNIOT HURY
Eugene Cuniot-Hury (1861–1912) was a prolific Mirecourt maker who copied many styles, producing bows under the name of various Parisian shops as well as his own name, and at varying quality levels. This excellent example of a nickel mounted bow has a round stick with a good balance of strength and flexibility. 58 grams; balance point: 23.5 cm. |
$5,000 |
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HILL
~ SOLD ~ Charles Leggatt (1880–1917) made this bow for the Hill shop of London. He was one of their best young bow makers and was killed in action in France. It is a good example of a pre-war Hill bow and is in very good condition. 61.5 grams; balance point: 24.5 cm. |
$4,200 |
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W E H & S
~ SOLD ~ This is a good bow by Albert Leeson, one of the best makers in the shop of W.E. Hill & Sons. The round stick is of dark red/brown wood and quite strong, despite being not overly heavy. All parts are original except for the grip. It is in very good condition with some wear to the handle. 59 grams; balance point: 24 cm. |
$4,200 |
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REID HUDSON
This bow is cut from the same board as the gold and tortoise shell bow above, and made to the same Dominique Peccatte design. However it has a silver mounted ebony frog and silver wire grip, and is priced accordingly. 60.5 grams; balance point: 24 cm. See www.reidhudson.com. |
$4,000 |
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REID HUDSON
~ SOLD ~ This bow has a round pernambucco stick, light red-brown in colour with an ivory tip face and imitation whalebone grip. It has a silver-mounted ebony frog with a mother-of-pearl slide and a Parisian eye. The one-piece adjuster is covered in silver. There are no visible defects or repairs. 58 grams; balance point 25.5 cm. See www.reidhudson.com. |
$4,000 |
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T. VICTOR
~ SOLD ~ Victor Thomassin was born in France and worked in England after 1900 using the stamp “T. VICTOR” to somewhat conceal his identity. The silver mounted frog, ivory tip face and silver tinsel grip are not original to this bow, but in an appropriate style. This is a healthy, strong and slightly heavy bow and is sold with a certificate by Reid Hudson. 62 grams; balance point: 25 cm. |
$4,000 |
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C. BAZIN
~ SOLD ~ From the shop of Charles Nicolas Bazin (1847–1915). This is an excellent, though unadorned bow of average workmanship with a strong round stick and typical Bazin style frog. Comfortable under the hand. 60 grams; balance point: 24 cm. |
$4,000 |
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J HEL A LILLE
The Bazin shop supplied this bow to J. Hel, an important maker and dealer who worked in Lille from 1865 to 1902. It has a nickel mounted ebony frog and adjuster. All parts original except for the grip and in excellent condition. 59 grams; balance point: 22.5 cm. |
$3,800 |
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W E H & S (Also stamped I799)
~ SOLD ~ Sydney Yeoman (1876–1948) was a long serving member of the Hill shop and this bow is a fine example of a lower priced bow from his hands and is in excellent condition. The slender round stick is of moderately dark wood showing flexibility and some strength. An elegant bow, it has been the life long companion of a dedicated musician. 61 grams; balance point: 24.5 cm. |
$3,800 |
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*ALBERT NURNBERGER*
~ SOLD ~This fine bow by Albert Nurnberger, one of the most prominent German bow makers of the early 20th century, shows the wear and restoration of many years of playing, especially near the gold mounted ebony frog. The octagonal stick is light and strong. 57 grams; balance point: 24.5 cm. |
$3,700 |
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HILL
This attractive bow from the Hill shop is original in all its parts including the whalebone grip. It was apparently made by Charles Legatt (1880–1917) though his maker’s mark on the silver tip face is very faint. The round stick is of moderate strength and the ebony frog and adjuster are silver mounted. 59.5 grams; balance point: 25 cm. |
$3,500 |
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SCHUBACK-DEVILLERS
 Martin DeVillers is an award winning French bow maker who graduated from the school in Mirecourt in 1975. This beautiful and fine bow was made while working in Paul Schuback’s shop in Portland, Oregon 1975–1982. It has an octagonal stick with an ivory tip face and an imitation whalebone grip. The ebony frog and adjuster are mounted with gold and the adjuster is inlaid with shell. Excellent condition. 61.5 grams; balance point: 25 cm. |
$3,500 |
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E. HERRMANN
~ SOLD ~This bow was made for the New York firm of Emil Herrmann and is well crafted of the best materials. It is strong and stable and gives a dark sound to an instrument and yet is lighter than it seems in the hand. It is original in all its parts and in excellent condition. The octagonal stick has an ivory tip face and the grip is of black whalebone laid with a gold wire. The frog and adjuster are of ebony mounted with gold. 58.5 grams; balance point: 25.5 cm. |
$3,200 |
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AUG. GEMUNDER & SONS
August Gemünder (1814–1895) was born in Germany, moved to America in 1846 and founded the firm of Aug. Gemunder & Sons in New York in 1890. The firm was continued by his sons for many years and bows such as this were ordered from various German shops. It is an attractive and well made bow, the octagonal stick is slender and moderately strong. 59.5 grams; balance point: 25 cm. |
$2,650 |
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ROY G. QUADE
~ SOLD ~ Roy Quade is a prize winning bow maker who lives in Calgary. He was a student of William Salchow and has made bows for over 25 years. This present bow dates from the early 1990’s and is in excellent condition. It has an octagonal stick, ivory tip face and silver mounted frog and adjuster. 58.5 grams; balance point: 24 cm. |
$2,500 |
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BERNARD P. WALKE
~ SOLD ~ Bernard Walke is a well-known Canadian bow maker working in Ottawa, and the brother of Gregory Walke whose instruments we have for sale as well. This example has a round stick with a silver tip face and silver mounted ebony frog. It is in excellent condition. 59.5 grams; balance point: 25 cm. |
$2,500 |
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H S
Round pernambucco stick, ivory tip face, silver wire grip, silver/ebony frog with Parisian eye. 62.5 grams; balance point 23.5 cm. (Other Reid Hudson “H S” student bows also available.) |
$2,200 |
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F.K. MÜLLER, circa 1950
F. K. Müller was a bow maker established in Bubenreuth, Germany in the middle of the 20th century. This bow is very strong and heavy and well made of excellent materials. A portrait of the maker is stamped on the side of the frog. It is in excellent condition. 64 grams; balance point 26 cm. |
$2,000 |
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DAPRE–PECCATTE, France, circa 1930
Attributed to the Thibouville-Lamy shop of Mirecourt, this bow has a fine round stick with an ivory tip face and silver wire grip. The silver mounted ebony frog has been newly restored for a better fit to the stick. The divided adjuster is of silver and ebony. This bow is in good condition. 62 grams; balance point 25 cm. |
$2,000 |
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ALBERT NURNBERGER
~ SOLD ~ This commercial German bow bearing the name of Albert Nurnberger was probably made circa 1950. It has a fine octagonal stick, nickel mounted ebony frog and adjuster, and is in very good condition. 56 grams; balance point: 24 cm. |
$2,000 |
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Old German violin bow, unbranded
This old German bow has a particularly slender and strong octagonal stick of attractive wood showing a few minor flaws. The ivory tip face and silver wire grip are replacements while the silver mounted ebony frog and adjuster are original. 59.5 grams; balance point 24.5 cm. |
$1,750 |
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ARCHIBALD S. HILL, Seattle, circa 1940
An interesting bow by this Australian-born violin and bow maker who worked in Seattle and was roundly applauded by William Henley in his Universal Dictionary. It is nicely made and mounted in silver, slightly light and flexible and in good condition. The ivory tip face is an apparent replacement, but no other repairs are visible. 58.5 grams; balance point: 24 cm. |
$1,500 |
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PA.........
The stamp on this older silver mounted French violin bow has been worn away so that all that is visible is “PA..........”. This bow has been extensively restored by Reid Hudson, with a new ivory tip face, new grip and new adjuster. It is fairly light and elastic, with enough strength for many good players. In very good restored condition. 57 grams; balance point 23 cm. |
$1,450 |
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WILLIAMS ARTIST
The R. S. Williams Company of Toronto imported many instruments and bows from Europe, branded them with their name and sold them all over Canada. This silver mounted bow is branded “Artist” as it was considered of better qualtity than their student offerings. Very good condition other than a small crack in the ivory. This is a nice playing bow of moderate strength, slightly light at 56.5 grams. Balance point: 23 cm. |
$1,200 |
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P. OTTO BRAMBACH I.S.
~ SOLD ~ The unusual feature of this bow is the laminated ebony and tortoise shell frog which has been mounted in nickel rather than silver or gold. This bow is in excellent condition with a round stick, ivory tip face and a new imitation whalebone grip by Reid Hudson. 59 grams; balance point: 25 cm. |
$1,200 |
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FRANCE (stamped behind frog)
This good quality bow from an unknown Mirecourt shop circa 1930 is in very good condition. It is a strong round bow and slightly heavy. The nickel mounted ebony frog has a mother of pearl slide and dot and the adjuster is covered in nickel. The grip and the ivory tip face are replacements. 63 grams; balance point: 24.5 cm. |
$1,200 |
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A. VIGNERON À PARIS
From a German shop circa 1975, this silver mounted violin bow has a round stick, a silver wire grip, ivory tip face and ebony frog. 62 grams; balance point: 24 cm. |
$1,000 |
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Violin Bows in 3/4 size
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REID HUDSON
A fine silver mounted violin bow in 3/4 size from Reid Hudson of Duncan, BC. 53 grams; balance point: 20.5 cm. See www.reidhudson.com. |
$2,500 |
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Other bows under $1,000
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Unbranded German bow, circa 1950
~ SOLD ~ The fine round stick of this nickel mounted bow is of choice pernambucco with good strength and balance. Though some wear and marks are evident the lizard skin grip is interesting and overall this is an attractive bow in good condition. 59 grams; balance point: 25 cm. |
$1000 |
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BRIAN JOHNSON
~ SOLD ~ Brian Johnson is a player in the Regina Symphony who studied bow making with John Norwood Lee of Chicago. This bow is a typical example of his work with a dark brown octagonal stick and a silver mounted frog of ivory laminated to an ebony core. The frog and adjuster are decorated with abalone shell. It is in excellent condition. 60.5 grams; balance point: 23.5 cm. |
$800 |
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BLAISE a MONTREAL
~ SOLD ~ This interesting and eccentric bow features a silver mounted frog inlaid with the planet Saturn on one side and the moon within a ring on the other. The round pernambucco stick has an elongated head with an ivory tip face. There is a silver wire grip and the adjuster is covered in silver. In good condition except for small cracks in the ivory. 60 grams; balance point: 25 cm. |
$700 |
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Unbranded violin bow
~ SOLD ~ This interesting nickel mounted bow has a number of unusual features. The round snakewood stick is about 12mm shorter than most full size bows and the frog is curved at the top creating a curve in the hair near the frog. It is in excellent condition with a new silver wire grip. 65 grams; balance point: 24 cm. |
$500 |
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FRANCE (faintly stamped behind frog)
~ SOLD ~ This is an older Mirecourt bow with a round brazilwood stick in very good condition. The ivory tip face, the nickel mounted ebony frog with mother of pearl slide and plastic dots and the divided pernambucco and nickel adjuster are all original. 57 grams; balance point: 23.5 cm. |
$500 |
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We have several other good bows in the $200 to $1,000 range. Please enquire.
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