Bow Category: Viola

Marc Laberte was not only a violin maker, he was also a fine bow maker.  Born in 1880 to a long line of violin makers, he took over the Laberte Humbert freres business that was founded by his father and uncle.  In 1915 he merged Laberte Humbert with the Fourier Magnie company, growing to around 300 luthiers/archtiers.  World War II hit Mirecourt very hard and after the war, having their stock and tools stolen, Marc and his son Phillipe Laberte tried to rebuild but the 1950’s were very difficult economically in France and the shop finally closed with Marc passing away in 1963.

This FC Pfretzschner viola bow was most likely made in Markneukirchen, Germany for the Gewa company in the middle of the 20th century.  Gold mounted with a tortoiseshell frog, it plays beautifully and is nice and strong.

This beautiful gold mounted bow was made by Brazilian bow maker, Marcos Pereira.  Marcos started making bows at the age of 18 in 1990 and has been making bows for the Arcos Brazil Group for many years.

Eugene Nicolas Sartory, born in 1871 in Mirecourt, France is arguably the best bowmaker from the 20th century.  Son of a bowmaker he accelerated his learning by moving to Paris and worked with Charles Pecatte and then Alfred Lamy pere.  At the young age of 18 he opened his own shop in Paris where he produced stunning bows until he died in 1946.  After serving in WWI he continued to expand his shop hiring more bowmakers and collaborating with Jules Fetique and Louis Gillet.  He was so well known that, unbeknownst to him, makers across Europe were copying his bows and adding his stamp!  He found this out on a trip to New York in 1921.

This cello bow is one of those bows.  Made in Germany, it is a well made, fine playing pernambuco bow but stamped E Sartory.  Just like many a fine German violin bearing a Stradivarius label, this bow does a great job of performing beautifully at a more affordable price.