Eugène Sartory

Eugene Nicolas Sartory (b. September 22, 1871 in Mirecourt, France, d. March 5, 1946 in Paris) was an influential French archetier/ bow maker.

Normally spelled Eugène Sartory.

Sartory was taught by his father in Mirecourt. In 1890 he began working for Charles Peccatte in Paris and later for Joseph Alfred Lamy before setting up on his own on the Boulevard Nouvelle 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. 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 (Belgique) Universal and International Exhibition.
• 1906 Milan (Italie) Exposizione Internationale del Sempione
• 1908 Londres (Great-Britain) Franco-British Exhibition

Quotes

"The name Sartory is universally recognized due to the prolific and consistent output from the Sartory atelier. Sartory bows are very popular and priced accordingly." - Stefan Hersh <ref>{{cite journal | author=Stefan Hersh | year= 2003 | month=Spring | title=A Brief History of the Bow as a Playing Tool | journal=Sound Post | volume= 3 | issue=11 |

"Sartory bows are synonymous with reliability and consistency and are the bows of choice for many professional musicians." - G. 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
• Eugène Nicolas Sartory: the modern classic of bow making