Johnson String Instrument regularly acquires exceptional antique bows as well as bows by award-winning contemporary makers. Below are this month's featured bows available for purchase, home trial, or as an outfit.
Born into the third generation of the Lamy family of French luthiers, bow maker Georges Léon Lamy (1881-1915) was the youngest son of renowned archetier Joseph Alfred Lamy ("Lamy Père" 1850-1919), and brother of Hippolyte Camille Lamy (1875-1942). He worked in his father's bow workshop in Paris before serving in World War I, where he died in 1915, cutting short his promising career. His bows are rare and very highly regarded.
A French viola bow made, in our opinion, by Bernard Ouchard for the firm of Vidoudez. The octagonal stick bears the latter's brand stamp and is presently mounted in a contemporary ebony and gold frog. The original tortoise shell and gold frog accompanies the bow, and will be included as a part of the sale.
Among the most important 20th century French bow makers, Bernard Ouchard was born in Mirecourt in 1925 and died in Vittel in 1979. A member of the Ouchard dynasty's third generation of outstanding bow makers, he was the the grandson of Émile François Ouchard ("Ouchard père," 1872-1951), and the son of Émile Auguste Ouchard ("Ouchard fils," 1900-1969). Other bow makers in his family include his younger brother, Jean Claude Ouchard (b. 1935), who studied with Louis Bazin, and his uncle, esteemed maker François Lotte (1889-1970).
Sold with a certificate of authenticity from Bernard Millant.
Bernard Ouchard for Vidoudez | Octagonal | Ebony and gold fittings
Regarded as one of the most important bow makers in the history of bow making, French archetier François Nicolas Voirin (1833-1885) began an apprenticeship at the age of twelve with Jean Simon in Mirecourt, then moved to Paris in 1855 to join the famous workshop of his cousin, Jean Baptiste Vuillaume. Voirin worked alongside Pierre Simon (1808-1881), another gifted bow maker from Mirecourt who had studied with Dominique Peccatte, copying Simon's head styles and Vuillaume's frog designs, including the experimental "Alard" style frog and "picture" bows.
Sold with a certificate of authenticity from Salchow and Sons.
François Nicolas Voirin | Round | Silver and ebony frog and button | 4/4
Located in Newton, Massachusetts, Carriage House Violins is the instrument sales division of Johnson String Instrument.
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