Eugène Sartory

Eugene Nicolas Sartory (1871, Mirecourt – 1946) was an influential French archetier/ bow maker from Mirecourt, France. Normally spelled Eugène Sartory. After having first apprenticed with his father, he went on to work in Paris for Charles Peccatte and Joseph Alfred Lamy (père) before setting up on his own shop in 1893. He fortified the Voirin model, producing sturdily built bows with strong shafts. Later on Sartory innovated the design of his bows; widening the head and altering the shaft cross-section as well as thickening the shaft above the handle. These changes provided more stability and reliability in the handling.

His bows are marked "E.SARTORY A PARIS". The apex of the trend toward heavy, strong bows was exemplified in the output of Eugene Sartory, who developed a style of bow to which his atelier adhered consistently for decades. He fortified the Voirin model, producing sturdily built bows with strong shafts. Later on Sartory innovated the design of his bows; widening the head and altering the shaft cross-section as well as thickening the shaft above the handle. These changes provided more stability and reliability in the handling. In his early period, Sartory preferred dark pernambuco wood, whereas the later bows are generally of lighter color. His bows are marked "E. SARTORY A PARIS". The apex of the trend toward heavy, strong bows was exemplified in the output of Eugene Sartory, who developed a style of bow to which his atelier adhered consistently for decades.

Vigneron and Fetique produced bows that at times could rival a Sartory in terms of strength and handling, but the consistency of Sartory bows has made them a perennial favorite among musicians even if they lack some of the subtlety of older bows. Sartory bows are utterly reliable as playing tools and will satisfy a wide variety of players.

Honors and awards

Eugène SARTORY won medals and prizes at various exhibitions and competitions :

• 1887 Bruxelles
• 1894 Lyon (France) International and Colonial Exhibition.
• 1900 Paris (France) Universal and International Exhibition.
• 1905 Liege (Belgium) Universal and International Exhibition.
• 1906 Milan (Italy) Exposizione Internationale del Sempione
• 1908 London (Great-Britain) Franco-British Exhibition

Quotes

"The name Sartory is universally recognized due to the prolific and consistent output from the Sartory atelier. All of these qualities to make Sartory’s among the least difficult bows to sell. Consequently the margin between wholesale and retail pricing is narrower with Sartory bows than with other fine string instruments and bows." - Stefan Hersh

"Sartory bows are synonimous with reliability and consistency and are the bow of choice for many professional musicians." - Gennady Filimonov

References

• Stefan Hersh (2003). "A Brief History of the Bow as a Playing Tool". Sound Post. 3 (11). Retrieved 2007-05-08. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
• Roda, Joseph (1959). Bows for Musical Instruments. Chicago: W. Lewis. OCLC 906667. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Vatelot, Etienne (1976). Les Archet Francais. Sernor: M. Dufour. OCLC 2850939. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Raffin, Jean Francois (2000). L'Archet. Paris: L'Archet Éditions. ISBN 295155690X. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Dictionnaire Universel del Luthiers - Rene Vannes 1951,1972, 1985 (vol.3)
• Universal Dictionary of Violin & Bow Makers - William Henley 1970