Léon Bernardel Workshop Violin Bow – Paris circa 1905-1915

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Are you looking for a subtle French bow with great bones, light in weight, and a stick that can handle off the string articulations well? Maybe this is the mate your violin is looking for. Léon Bernardel (1853-1931) was born in Paris and belonged to a well-known family of violin makers. Before he ventured off to Mirecourt at the age of 16 to train with Justin Derazey, Léon studied with his father, Ernest August Bernardel. At age 18, Léon returned to Paris to join his family firm Gand & Bernardel Freres. In 1898 he established his own workshop in Paris, with his son Léon II working alongside as his partner at 40 Rue du Faubourg-Poissonnière. Léon began signing his own instruments and branding bows around 1900 and his making from this period maintained the family traditions and styles: Lupot looks in violins and traditional French bow work. His firm eventually became the primary supplier of instruments and bows to the finest orchestras and music conservatories in France. In 1913, Léon joined Couesnon and Co., musical exporters in Mirecourt, as artistic director and he held that role until his retirement in 1923 from the trade.

Our bow is older pernambuco wood, round in section, and mounted in sterling silver. We have meticulously gone over the bow, giving the bow a new tip, replacing the leather thumb, and replacing the mother-of-pearl slide. The frog has single pearl eyes in each face and a three-piece button, all original. A hundred-year-old plus bow, sold in their Paris shop for the equivalent of about 15 English pounds back in the early 1900’s. It’s amazing for me to think about the journey of the stick; the pernambuco tree growing in Brazil in the late 1700’s, harvested in the mid to late 1800’s, transported to Europe and dried for 15-20 years, and then crafted into a violin bow. Wow! A very playable and price friendly French bow.

Weight fully haired 59.3 grams