Violin Bow by Nicolas Duchaine I, Mirecourt
This violin bow has now sold.
About Nicolas Duchaine I
Nicolas Duchaine was born in 1746 in a small village very close to Mirecourt. He went on to serve his apprenticeship at Mirecourt: during this time the young apprentices were only taught bow making as an adjunct to their development as violin makers. Duchaine took the decision to specialise in bow making when presented with the opportunity to produce bows for François Lupot I to sell in Stuttgart.
Initially making Baroque bows, Duchaine switched to the Cramer model around 1770. This development would have been driven by the changing demand of his market: the violinist Wilhelm Cramer brought the new model of bow to Paris around this date. Duchaine died in 1813, succeeded by his son Nicolas II. Interestingly, Nicolas I and II were two of the earliest makers outside Paris to brand their bows.
About the bow
The bow weighs 51 grams and measures 693mm in length. The Cramer model is longer than Baroque bows and has a concave camber. The head is also significantly taller than a Baroque bow: these bows are known as Transitional bows as they bridge the gap between modern bows and the bows that came before.
The bow has an open frog and a bone adjuster. The stick is of ironwood: pernambuco was not commonly used until the work of François Xavier Tourte.
How does it play?
The bow is well balanced and easy to handle. Tonally, it produces a pure sound which is direct and focussed. The tall head and frog and the more powerful camber give this bow a fantastic ability to grip the string and make chords sound particularly beautiful. A substantial and reliable bow with plenty of life!
Condition
The bow is in excellent restored condition. The mounts are unoriginal but of the period.