FRANCOIS NICOLAS VOIRIN 1872/1875Francois Nicolas Voirin is not the craftsman I love the most, as you know I reproach him for having oriented the bow making towards mass production. But it is undeniable that his technical and style level was like that of few others.
Cello bow Francois Nicolas Voirin 1872 - 1875 When in these days a this beautiful cello bow was handed over to me in my workshop, my pleasure of seeing such a clean and precise job was so great ,that I had the wish to share it with you.
Built between 1872 and 1875, it represents a very pure example of what Voirin had become after his long stay by J.B. Vuillaume's workshop. He too, likely Bernard Ouchard, thanks to the long stay in his uncle's workshop , has the necessary time to develop his own mechanical and stylistic theories.
When he opened his atelier in 1870, the French bow making has completely made its evolution. The Curves have moved forward and the Geometries of the head become more slender and triangular.
As I have extensively written, I consider that one of Voirin more as a regression rather than an advance, but speaking about hand and aesthetic taste, he had very few rivals.
In the picture above, I made sure to have light mirroring, so to show you how precise Voirin' s hand is. Look at the beautiful development of the head with the lines that fit perfectly on each other, each line a file stroke !
Like all great, He too, can transfer his deepest Self in his works. His style, in addition to having a Perfect Balance, exudes the maniacal, almost ostentatious, pursuit of perfection .
If you look at the center line of the head, you will realize what I amtelling. Compare it with that of Dominique Peccatte, or F.X. Tourte.
As in many Voirin's cello bows , the base of the shoe is usually tending to a triangular shape.
The support of the frog is in the "Vuillaume's style ", and here there is the only restoration. Someone with improvisation and incompetence, after the nut was broken into the support , instead of carrying out the Proper Restoration, has thought to save time by making a second hole a few millimeters below. After that, to recreate the same distance between the frog and the beginning of the skin, he had to undo the winding and redo it 5 mm back.
Even the frog, where as you can see I carried out a full job , reflects the author's mania. Ebony is of the highest quality and the performance is a classic; essential, clean and soft lines , which intersect in a perfect manner.
Even looking at the frog from behind it is difficult to determine with which hand the author worked. By the way: have you understood it ?
The button is in three parts and without mother- of- pearl on the bottom. The crown is double, the second one is very small , Voirin-style precisely.
Specifications and sizes Stick: dense pernambuco in dark brown color ; transition curve. 69 cm total length Stick diameter at the collar 6- 5,8 mm Stick diameter at the winding 9,3mm Head : width 11,5 mm; height 27,4 mm; length 32,1 mm Frog : Height from 24,4 to 24,5 mm; Length from 52 - 50,8 mm Ring : 13,4 x 9,5 x 6,4 mm Slide : Length 32,3; Width from 7,2 to 8 mm Button : Diameter 9,3 mm; Length 18 mm; Proportions silver/ebony 5,8/6,4/5,8 Single Eye diameter 7,4 mm
Original stamp The last thing left to say is that the bow in the photo is supplied with a beautiful certificate by M° Bernard Millant, who attributes it to Francois Nicolas Voirin in all its parts and that is for sale. If anyone wishes to receive further information, please send me an email to :
To Martina, who allowed me to take a picture of it and show it to you.. So long. Paolo
|
   |
