François Nicolas Voirin for J. B. Vuillaume, French violin bow, c.1865 (certificate Guillaume)

François Nicolas Voirin: Excellent French violin bow, easy to handle and responsive, with a bright, radiant tone. Rare design with an optical Stanhope lens in the frog, showing a portrait of Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume – a collector's item and capital investment.

French violin bow by François Nicolas Voirin for J. B. Vuillaume, Paris, circa 1865: silver-mounted violin bow made of high-quality pernambuco, with the innovative frog track by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume.

François Nicolas Voirin (1833–1885) was the best employee in the bow-making workshop of Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, who is credited with great contributions to its commercial success and its legendary artistic reputation, which continues to this day. He made the most valuable violin bows of the J. B. Vuillaume brand, especially those with the elaborate decoration of a Stanhope lens set into the frog, which reveals a portrait of Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume when viewed through it. B. Vuillaume, especially those with the elaborate decoration of a Stanhope lens embedded in the frog, which shows a portrait of Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume when viewed through it. The François Nicolas Voirin violin bow offered here is one of these masterpieces of French stringed bow making and, thanks to its historical collector's value, is an interesting investment. It was made around 1865, during F. N. Voirin's heyday at J. B. Vuillaume, and proves to be a work at the height of its era, among other things due to the so-called Vuillaume track on which the frog is mounted – an innovation that is still in use today. The high-quality silver fittings match the musical quality of the finely crafted, active, and elastic round stick made of first-class pernambuco; its responsive playability and typical French, bright sound qualify this 57 g violin bow for high-quality, fine string instruments. With a slight visual imperfection on the lens and a leg replaced by an excellently made copy, it is in excellent condition, ready to play, tested and prepared by the experts in our workshop. A certificate from Pierre Guillaume is included. We deliver free of charge, with a 30-day return policy.

François Nicolas Voirin violin bow for J. B. Vuillaume, around 1865 – brief portrait

• Valuable French violin bow by François Nicolas Voirin
• Authentic work by Vuillaume's best employee
• Active, responsive playing and bright, clear sound
• Elaborate decoration of a Stanhope lens with Vuillaume portrait in the frog
• Collector's item and capital investment, with certificate from Pierre Guillaume

Delivered free of shipping costs, with a 30-day return policy.

Important Notice for International Buyers:
Antiques over 100 years old are exempt from customs duties. No customs fees apply for shipments to the UK and all other countries.