A Violin Bow by Jacob Eury

History of the Instrument

Jacob Eury was born in Mirecourt in 1765 and initially studied violin making under his father, François. However, he soon shifted his focus to bow making. After completing eight years of military service, Eury returned to Mirecourt, where he may have apprenticed in the workshop of Jean 'Grand' Adam. Around 1805, he moved to Paris, working in various locations before settling in Versailles in 1826, where he would remain.

Shortly after arriving in Paris, Eury encountered François Xavier Tourte and began incorporating elements of Tourte’s style and techniques into his own work. For instance, the frogs and heads of his bows feature similar sizes and shapes, and his metal fittings are solid and thick. Additionally, the tonal characteristics of Eury's bows show a resemblance to those of Tourte. However, the influence of Eury's other contemporaries, such as Lupot and Voirin, is evident in some of his pieces. Notably, a unique aspect of his bows is the use of a chamfer instead of a ridge at the tip of the head.

Despite facing financial struggles throughout his career, Eury maintained a high standard of quality in his work, although his style became heavier after 1826. Today, his bows are highly esteemed by both players and collectors.

This example tells a rather unique story with a frog specifically crafted for it later by Joseph Henry in tortoiseshell to compliment what is clearly originally a gold mounted bow by Eury. We can say this with certainty as the headplate and button are original to the bow. As to why the frog was later changed, we can only speculate, however the resulting bow as a whole is one of the finest playing bows we have ever encountered.