Three bows belonging to
a former board member
in the collection
Last September, we had to say goodbye to Jan Verheugt. He was a tremendous music lover, active as a chamber musician, and a dedicated board member and advisor to the Musical Instrument Fund. Above all, he was a beloved friend. Even now that he is no longer with us, he remains faithful to our musical mission: Jan bequeathed three violin bows to the fund.
A Threefold Legacy
The Musical Instrument Fund has acquired two French violin bows by François Nicolas Voirin from the estate of Jan. One was made around 1850 based on a model by J.B. Vuillaume. Voirin made the other one about ten years later. Both bows have a silver mount and an ebony frog.
In addition, thanks to Jan, the foundation’s collection has been enriched with a classical violin bow by an anonymous maker, presumably crafted in England around 1780. This is now one of the oldest bows in the collection. An age of 240 years is remarkable, as bows are extremely fragile. The hammer-head model (sometimes called the Cramer model) of the bow also brings a smile to our faces. The hammerhead model was produced for only a short time, between approximately 1750 and 1820. Starting in the 19th century, the model designed by F.X. Tourte gained popularity.
The Voirin bow, made in Paris around 1850.
The English bow with a classic hammerhead.
Thanks to this legacy, Jan lives on not only in the wonderful memories we made with him, but also in the collection of the Musical Instrument Fund.
Boundless Love
During an interview in 2018, Jan said that his love for the fund and the instruments knows no bounds. He has proven this time and again, and now once more with this heartfelt legacy. We are deeply grateful to him and are convinced that the donated bows will help foster the development of talent. He himself described this contribution as “a touch of romance.”
Read the interview