A Silver-Mounted French Violin Bow by Auguste Barbé, circa 1890, stamped 'H.C.Silvestre à Paris'

A Silver-Mounted French Violin Bow by Auguste Barbé, circa 1890, stamped 'H.C.Silvestre à Paris'

Mathias Theophile Auguste Barbé was a French maker based in Mirecourt. He was possibly taught by one of the members of the Bazin family, probably Charles, and provided many bows for Gand & Bernardel in Paris for many years. He established his own workshop  in Mirecourt in the 1890s, and his bows often sport the names of other workshops, such as this example, branded 'H.C.Silvestre à Paris'. Similar in construction to the work of his contemporary Francois Voirin, this bow has a strong yet flexible stick, and is in excellent condition. The French mounts of the period by a different hand.