Eugène Sartory

Eugène Sartory (1871—1946) was a distinguished French archetier, often regarded as one of the greatest bow makers of the XXth century. Born in Mirecourt, Sartory initially studied with his father before moving to Paris to become an apprentice of Charles Peccatte and Joseph Alfred Lamy. In 1889, Eugène Sartory opened his workshop. Inspired by Lamy's and François Nicolas Voirin's design in his earlier years, Sartory focused on creating much heavied and sturdier bows with broader heads and fortified sticks (in later years, often shaped octagonally). Sartory's frogs have a characteristic U-shaped throat. One of the first prominent violinists to endorse Sartory bows was Belgian virtuoso Eugène Ysaÿe. In 1914, with the immense commercial success and growing demand for his product, Sartory expanded his operation and opened workshops in Mirecourt and Nancy. He employed many talented apprentices to assist at all three locations, including Jules Fétique (Paris), Louis Morizot (Mirecourt), and Louis Gillet (Nancy); André Georges Richaume was among his students as well. Eugène Sartory produced numerous violin, viola, and cello bows over his lifetime, stamped 'E. Sartory à Paris' on the handle (often under the lapping, too). They became astoundingly costly, with one of the violin bows sold at the Nov 2017 auction for over $214,000.