In what was generally a lacklustre auction week here in London there were however two rather exceptional bows offered.

The first was on Tuesday at Sotheby’s, a wonderful gold and tortoiseshell bow by Emile Auguste Ouchard from the late 1940′s. This bow was very good value at £16,000. The other highlight was a mint example Sartory circa 1930 it is indeed rare to see genuine ‘as new’ Sartory bows these days. This bow went to a top Japanese dealer who fought off several Parisian dealers to buy for £16,000, needless to say in discussion later he was elated with his purchase.

Generally French bows continued to climb in price, English bows remained static, the exception being a fine Hill Fleur-de-Lys bow that sold for £10,000.