Eric Grandchamp viola bow, France

Eric Grandchamp is widely recognised as one of the world’s great contemporary bow makers. At the age of 15, having already developed a fascination with bow making, he enrolled in the bow making school in Mirecourt, where he trained under renowned French archetier Bernard Ourchard. Further training in Geneva gave him a mastery over fine metal-working evident in all his subsequent making. Numerous successes in international competitions were capped with the prized Meilleur Ouvrier de France, an award for France’s top craftspeople. A video of Grandchamp making a bow can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqOoJBXKQO4. This gorgeous, silver-mounted viola bow has been made with highly-selected pernambuco wood, and produces a very creamy, rich tone with much complexity and colour. Playing characteristics are exceptional – the bow feels like it is playing itself. The balance is excellent, legato bowings are very smooth, and all strokes are achieved without any trace of extra movement. A very good bow with rare qualities.