Treasures of the French Bow

The auction on November 28 at Aguttes promises to be one of the highlights of the season for collectors and musicians alike.
Within a carefully curated selection of instruments and bows, four exceptional pieces will celebrate the excellence of the French school of bow making, represented by several major names who helped shape its history.

A bow by Dominique Peccatte, the most eminent figure of the 19 th century, stands out for its rare octagonal stick mounted in silver — a testament to the subtle balance of power and elegance that defines his style.


Dominique Peccatte (1810 – 1874)
Superb violin bow made circa 1845–1850.
Octagonal stick of beautiful reddish-brown mahogany-colored pernambuco wood, ebony and silver-mounted frog and button.
Made to order for the luthier Charles Adolphe Maucotel, whose brand is stamped on the stick in front of the fittings.
Weight: 60.2 g
Good condition

Émile Auguste Ouchard, whose reputation continues to grow among both virtuosos and connoisseurs, will be represented by a magnificent bow mounted in ebony and gold, crafted at the dawn of his full artistic maturity. It perfectly embodies the creativity and exceptional mastery of his craft.


Émile Auguste Ouchard (1900 – 1969)
Exceptional and very rare engraved violin bow made circa 1930.
Fine pernambuco stick, ebony and gold-mounted frog and button.
The bow was sold by Émile François Ouchard (“father”), whose brand is stamped on the stick above the frog.
Notably, it bears an elegant monogram “LT” on the eye plate, referring to its dedicatee, Madame Laumond, née Tribouilloy.
This bow was presented to his deserving pupil by the great virtuoso and pedagogue Gabriel Willaume, soloist with the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, who formed a famous duo with pianist and composer Camille Saint-Saëns.
Weight: 56 g with silk lapping and fine hair
Stick length: 72.9 cm
Excellent condition


Eugène Sartory, widely celebrated as the greatest bow maker of the 20 th century, will be represented by a very fine ebony and silver-mounted example, dated to the 1910s — an emblematic and highly sought-after period during which his style achieved perfect balance and refinement of line.


Eugène Sartory (1871 – 1946)
Very fine violin bow made circa 1910.
Bearing the maker’s stamp on the stick above the frog.
Stick of beautiful pernambuco wood, ebony and silver-mounted frog and button.
Bow from the collection of Monsieur André Blervacq, musician with the Orchestre Philharmonique de la Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française.
Weight: 59 g
Stick length: 73.3 cm
Excellent, almost new condition, with original fittings, thumb leather, and screw mechanism.

Finally, a superb bow by Victor Fétique, mounted in ebony and gold, will undoubtedly attract attention for the elegance and refinement of its craftsmanship as well as the extraordinary purity of its condition.


Victor François Fétique (1872 – 1933)
Exceptional and extremely rare violin bow made circa 1920.
Bearing the maker’s stamp on the stick above the frog and a second time on the mortise plate.
Fine pernambuco stick, ebony and gold-mounted frog and button.
Bow from the collection of Monsieur André Blervacq, musician with the Orchestre Philharmonique de la Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française.
Weight: 60 g
Stick length: 73.1 cm
Rare and remarkable like-new condition, with original fittings, screw, and plate

Carefully sourced and admirably preserved, these four exceptional bows each bear witness, in their own way, to the continuity and refinement of a French tradition whose excellence remains a worldwide benchmark.

Upcoming Auction
Fine instruments & Bows
Friday, November 28, 2025

For more information or to include a lot in our upcoming auctions, contact:
Hector Chemelle
+33 7 69 02 70 85 • chemelle@aguttes.com