Joseph Alfred Lamy, French violin bow around 1890

This fine French violin bow, a masterpiece crafted by the famous French master Joseph Alfred Lamy "Père", features exceptionally well distributed weight and diameter. It was built around 1890, in the early years of Lamy's work at his own atelier that he successfully took over after the death of his teacher, the great François Nicolas Voirin. This fine piece by Joeph Alfred Lamy with its round, strong stick made of dark pernambuco is an example of A. Lamy's classic bow model and still bears his original brand. The bow is flawless with no weak spots and has a perceptibly centred balance point. The head and frog also reflect exquisite craftsmanship and have a Parisian eye and capsule adjuster. Traces of use on the stick bear witness to the fact that previous musicians truly appreciated the bow's sophisticated, large sound and its musical qualities. The violin bow was worked over by our luthiers and is offered ready to play, with a certificate of authenticity that was issued by Jean-François Raffin, Paris.

• All bows by Joseph Alfred Lamy
• Biography of Joseph Alfred Lamy père
• Notes on life and work of François Nicolas Voirin