Entirely handmade in the purest tradition of French bow making, each piece is unique. Agnes Saumagne creates fine violin, viola and cello bows in modern, baroque and classical style.
Bows between heritage...
Inspired by the greatest masters of French bow making such as Peccatte, Pageot, Tourte but also Adam, Vigneron, Sartory, Lamy and Simon… Agnes' bows are in keeping with this prestigious heritage.
... and high precision
The choice of materials and patina techniques confers a unique character to new bows and create the illusion of historic bows.
" A bow ought to be the extension of the musician's arm. Musicians nourish themselves from the bow's energy to offer character to their sounds, to translate their sensitivity into music. The bow must also exalt the sound of the instrument and become the artist's musical partner: reassuring often but also challenging, sometimes. "
Violin bow - gold and 'coeur de nacre' (sold)
Baroque violin bow - amourette wood and ivory palm (sold)
Violin bow - gold and green mother-of-pearl (sold)
Viola bow - silver (sold)
Classical viola bow - amourette wood (sold)
Cello bow - gold
Baroque cello bow - amourette wood (private collection)
Agnes Saumagne's creations or copies are signed with a branding iron and handed with their certificates of authenticity.
The creation of a bow follows the careful examination of the musician's needs and desires: the bow maker must be able to interpret the demands in terms of precision and ease of play, and to choose the right materials and techniques.
AGNES ebony frog
Woods are rigorously selected to provide tension, smoothness, timbre and amplify harmonics.
AGNES bows are never processed chemically. As a result, the woods oxidise naturally and their structure does not deteriorate over time.
AGNES gold ferrule
With a 25 or 18 carats silver or gold assemblage, each skillfully adjusted piece will bring adequate balance to the bow as a whole. The proportions, bend and the relation between weight and balance will determine the unique timbre and personality of each bow.
Baroque button in tagua, vegetal ivory
In the face of ethical and environmental challenges, Agnes Saumagne missions herself to find and experiment with innovative materials to offer a fine quality range to her consciencious clients. She also seeks to overcome potential allergies.
