Paul Émile Miquel, French violin and viola bow c.1880 (certificate J.-F. Raffin)

Powerful French bow for violin and viola by Paul Émile Miquel. This bow from around 1880 describes a fascinating chapter in the context of modern French string bow making in the late 19th century. The repertoire of this little-known master is undoubtedly one of the precious rarities of the period. During this creative period, Paul Emile Miquel made silver-mounted bows whose design was based on the prestigious Pecatte school, as can be clearly seen in the example presented here. He later turned to Bazin models, coinciding with his move from his native town of Mirecourt to Nancy around 1900, where he quickly gained recognition as a repairer, leaving him little time for new constructions. This bow, with a weight of 65 grams, impresses with its strong stick, large, radiant tone and exemplary weight distribution, with the balance point measured at 26.6 centimetres in the upper half of the bow stick. The head is finely crafted together with the elegant silver mount, although it should be noted that the frog and set screw are finely crafted replicas. The fine craftsmanship embodies an aesthetic promise that completely fulfills the characteristic tonal brilliance of a typical French bow, full of grandeur and pleasant warmth. Like all our stringed instruments and bows, this one will be delivered to your home free of charge, accompanied by a 30-day return policy and Corilon's trade-in guarantee.