Celebrating the life and work of François Xavier Tourte from the 1st through the 30th of November, 2008 at London's Royal Academy of Music. Presented by Paul Childs in association with the Royal Academy of Music, and featuring a forum on Tourte on November 2nd.
Shown below are pictures of five bows which will be among thirty-five Tourtes and fifteen contemporary Tourte copies on display during the event.
This exquisite and well-known violin bow was formerly the “star” bow of the famous Hottinger collection. It was later guarded by the Wurlitzer and Möennig firms who declined to sell it to players in order to preserve its pristine condition.
An extremely fine example of Tourte's late work, this violin bow was formerly the property of the eminent violinist and collector Zlatko Balakovic. It later became the favored bow of the great virtuoso Aaron Rosand whose recordings over a 30 year period are graced by the sensational sound produced by maestro Rosand, his del Gesu and this Tourte.
This remarkable 'cello bow bears the inscription "TOURTE DE LAMARE" on the ferrule of its frog and was certainly made by Tourte for Jacques Michel Hurel Delamare. One of the most prominent virtuosos of his time, Delamare married a woman of independent wealth in 1815 which can only explain his acquisition of this virtually priceless bow.
An extremely rare swan-head ’cello bow, photos of which fail to reveal its complex structure and remarkable beauty. It was sold in 1928 by the firm of Vatelot-Hekking to a M. Gonzalez. More recently it was a fixture in an important French collection before crossing the Atlantic to enter the Fulton Collection.
A contemporary Tourte copy by Edwin Clément. The frog and button are made of ebony and white gold.
