Images(5)

Violin bow

Maker Nicholas Harmand

Date1825-1835 ca.

Place MadeMirecourt, France, Europe

Serial No.none

SignedStamped or branded on stick toward player, upside down: HD
MarkingsScratched on front edge of frog under stick, and on stick under frog (batch number): III
DescriptionThe frog decoration is identical to bows from François Jude Gaulard’s workshop that are pictured in Bernard Millant and J. F. Raffin, 1750-1850 Les Archetiers Francais. Paris, 2000. according to these authors, Harmand was also trained as an organ builder and was listed under both professions throughout his lifetime.
Philip Kass’ comments after viewing the bow 7/5/05: Nicolas Harmond, ca. 1830-1835. HD stamp. Gaulard influence – there is a connection.

Stick: round; ironwood
Head: large, short nose; sharply-defined ridge
Frog: ebony; no ferrule, heel-plate, or lining; mother-of-pearl shields on each face, with mother-of-pearl sun set in black mastic at centers; mother-of-pearl eye on bottom side of frog behind hair ribbon
Adjuster: bone; screw visible on end
Screw: rolled iron
Tip plate: bone; does not extend up nose
Wrapping: black leather; by John Vierow, January 2003
DimensionsStick length: 724 mm
Head height: 22.6 mm
Head width (bottom): 10.0 mm
Frog height: 19.1 mm (front); 18.6 mm (back)
Frog length (top): 45.3 mm
Frog length (bottom): 45.5 mm
Frog width (top): 8.5 mm
Frog width (bottom): 13.1 mm (front); 12.6 mm (back)
Weight: 60 grams
ProvenanceAcquired by Witten from the Bisiach Collection, 1968.
Published ReferencesAndré P. Larson. Beethoven & Berlioz, Paris & Vienna: Musical Treasures from the Age of Revolution & Romance 1789-1848. With essay by John Koster. Exhibition catalog, Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, September 12-November 2, 2003. Vermillion: National Music Museum 2003. Page 31.

Credit LineWitten-Rawlins Collection, 1984

Object number03412

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