3/4 French Violin bow-Mirecourt unstamped, silver mounted ebony

The Beginning of Bow-Making in Mirecourt It is uncertain how lutherie arrived in Mirecourt, but by the mid-seventeenth century, the art form was already thriving. Mirecourt was a part of the duchy of Lorraine up until the mid-eighteenth century, and ducal patronage allowed the arts to flourish. From the available records, we know that there were at least fifty violin makers operating in Mirecourt in the 1600s. By 1732, the Mirecourt luthiers were numerous enough to establish their own guild. The guild established strict quality controls for instruments, which encouraged Mirecourt’s violin makers to develop their skills to the highest possible level. The increased international trade of the 18th century gave Mirecourt luthiers two other important edges in the industry: the city’s role as a commercial center in France and access to quality Pernambuco wood from Brazil. Around this time period, bow-making began to assert itself as its own craft. Records from 1756 reveal archetiers appearing for the first time as their own profession in Mirecourt. Although bows remained anonymous and were not stamped with their maker’s brand, bow-making was finally stepping into the limelight. This bow comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Champarnaud & McCamy Paris, France.