In 2017 when the late and great Bernard Millant passed away his good friend and colleague of many years wrote that Bernard was probably in heaven deep in conversation with both Francois Tourte and Dominique Peccatte about their bows!
Read MoreDominique Peccatte bow arrives from France
You’re never bored of a Peccatte
The day you get bored of a Violin bow by Dominique Peccatte arriving is the day you should pull down the shutters and go into another business!
Very few dealers in the world are fortunate enough to be able to offer these tremendous bows to their customers. All his bows have their own distinctive personalities, always fabulous to play, if a passage you’re playing isn’t working it will not be the bows fault!
They are especially helpful in stressful playing situations, big solos in front of a large audience or in recording sessions. For many first rate soloist a Dominique Peccatte is their first choice to use, even if they have a collection.
Can you hear the difference?
A few years ago I was playing in an orchestra accompanying Sarah Chang playing the Brahms concerto. Her sound was not as strong nor as clear after the rehearsal break, this perplexed me. After the rehearsal I asked her if she had changed anything, she said the first half of the rehearsal was played on her Peccatte, after the break her Pajeot, the difference amazed me.
Henryk Szeryng for instance owned many bows, he sometimes even gave them away to deserving people, a very kind gesture! After his death his wife said for the last six years of his life he only used his Peccatte. Similarly if you look carefully at videos or photographs of Christian Ferras or Ivry Gitlis you can plainly see them holding their Peccatte bows, Ferras’ Peccatte, a rare octagonal, is especially beautiful.
The Peccatte arriving this week is from around 1845, at this point Peccatte has just returned to Mirecourt to set up his workshop having left Paris. Bows from this period are his most sought after as he reaches his apogee. As soon as it arrives you shall see a full description.
A fine Dominique Peccatte arrives from France circa 1860
Just over the last year or so sales behind the scenes have often been of earlier makers, notably F. X. Tourte and Persoit. Today I am delighted to announce the arrival of this very fine Dominique Peccatte bow, complete with a certificate from Jean-Francois Raffin. Details shall soon be in the fine bows section, what a delight to see his characteristic 'S' shape to the front ridge on the head in the photograph to the right.
SUMMER SALES!
As I have done over the last ten years if you look in the fine bows section you shall see several bows have new 'summer sale' prices! Also be aware that very fine violins are available and a couple of very high specification Musafia cases are here for the discerning violinist....Happy Summer!
Michael Taylor reminisces about Jean-Jacques Millant
There is little doubt, given the passage of time, that after the death of Eugene Sartory in 1946 the mantle of greatest living bow maker fell upon two very different personalities, Emile Auguste Ouchard and the reclusive Jean-Jacques Millant. In 1997, one year before Millant's death the renowned British bow maker Michael Taylor and the American bow collector Sidney Bowden paid him a visit at his shop in Paris.
Read MoreDominique Peccatte finds a new home
Peter Hembrough has recently supplied me with an outstanding bow the likes of which I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d own. I had been looking to upgrade my bow for about fifteen years, and had largely drawn a blank, but Peter has found just the sort of stick I was looking for, and I am extremely grateful to him. Being a fine player himself, and loving bows with both his head and his heart, Peter is in a prime position to source fine bows and link them to players. I have known Peter for many years and that he is passionate about finding fine wonderful bows for players – I recommend him highly.
John
Read MoreSandrine and I study a Peccatte
It is always a delight to meet up with colleagues when I am in Paris or indeed elsewhere in France searching out fine bows for customers.
Here I am with Sandrine Raffin in her shop in Paris.
We have just finished discussing a first class Dominique Peccatte bow. This bow is offered through Peter Hembrough bows.
Sandrine Raffin
Second Dominique Peccatte arrives from Paris
Fresh from Paris, PHB is pleased to be able to offer a second Dominique Peccatte violin bow for sale. A superb playing stick this bow should prove a first class companion for the discerning violinist looking for a versatile top class bow.
Complete with a certificate from Jean-Francois Raffin this is a rare opportunity indeed.
Vichy summer auction news
The main auction at Vichy this year had just under five hundred lots, mostly of the lower end of the market but with some excellent rare pieces here and there.
Read MorePHB buys first Dominique Peccatte to offer for sale
Several years ago I discussed with a dealer colleague based in Australia my need for a good Dominique Peccatte bow to add to my collection. It would have to have some damage since good examples are now selling for as much as £130,000. He told me of the only dealer he felt could help and at the same time keep the price reasonable. This man spends his life travelling round the world dealing in bows and is both honourable and a successful business man.
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