French violin bow by Nicolas Simon “Simon FR”, Mirecourt, circa 1850

French violin bow by Nicolas Simon “Simon FR”, Mirecourt, circa 1850

This characterful French violin bow was made in Mirecourt around 1850 by Nicolas Simon, known as “Simon FR”. Simon was an important representative of the nineteenth-century French school of bow making and worked in the Peccatte tradition. His powerfully modelled heads and technically convincing bow sticks enjoy an excellent reputation among musicians and collectors. The designation “FR” is now generally associated with Frébinet, his wife’s maiden name.

The bow has a strong, reddish-brown snakewood stick. This material, also known as letterwood, is distinguished by its particularly high density, strength and resilience. The robust stick, which is by no means overly soft, provides excellent stability and transmits the impulses of the bow hand directly and controllably to the string.

At a healthy 60 grams, the bow has an ideal weight for a fully capable and versatile violin bow. It feels stable and well balanced in the hand, responds immediately and affords a controlled playing experience without seeming stiff or cumbersome. The powerful stick enables clear articulation while retaining sufficient elasticity for nuanced playing and a varied tonal palette.

Its particular strength lies in its ability to refine the sound: the bow enriches the tone with numerous overtones, lends it greater depth and allows the tonal colours to appear more complex and noble. On a wide range of violins, it provides added substance, warmth and tonal maturity.

Particularly noteworthy is its effect on more recent instruments, whose tone can sometimes still seem somewhat direct and not yet fully developed. Here, the bow can impart greater suppleness, a wider variety of colour and a fascinating hint of the tonal maturity usually associated with older instruments.

The violin bow is in outstanding condition and has been professionally prepared in every respect, ready for playing. Its excellent state of preservation, sound and robust stick, and ideal weight make it a high-quality playing bow of equal reliability.

Snakewood is not currently listed in the CITES Appendices. Accordingly, this bow is not subject, on account of the wood used for its stick, to the special CITES regulations applicable to pernambuco. Particularly since the tightening of the regulations governing cross-border commercial trade in pernambuco bows, this represents a noteworthy practical advantage for internationally active musicians and dealers. The applicable import regulations of the destination country must, of course, still be observed.

An outstanding French playing bow from circa 1850, in first-class condition, with a healthy weight of 60 grams, a robust stick, very good control and an exceptional ability to refine the sound—particularly recommended for musicians wishing to give their instrument more overtones, depth, warmth and a mature, richly coloured character.