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instrument

cello bow

François Nicolas Voirin

built in Paris in ± 1870

A cello bow, made by F.N. Voirin in Paris, ca. 1870. Octagonal shaft, ebony frog, silver mountings. 80 grams. Length 69.3 cm.

History of this instrument

This bow comes from the famous “Max Rodriguez Collection,” which consists of four Italian master instruments and sixteen valuable bows. In 1992, the Rodriguez Collection was loaned to the Musical Instrument Fund. In 1997, the owner decided to donate nearly all of the instruments to our foundation. It remains the largest donation ever made to our foundation. This bow was first loaned to Jan Ype Nota, and then to Mascha van Nieuwkerk. Suzanne van Duuren also played with this bow for quite some time.

About the builder François Nicolas Voirin

François Nicolas Voirin is one of the most legendary French bow makers of the nineteenth century. He was innovative, worked with great refinement, and constantly sought to improve his craft. His body of work is truly impressive. Voirin...

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