Nicolas Leonard Tourte
c.1746–1807
Nicolas Leonard Tourte (1746-c.1807) was a pioneering French bow maker, known as Tourte l'ainé, and is celebrated as one of the first specialists and the founder of the French archetier tradition. Trained by his father, Nicolas Pierre Tourte, he initially crafted bows with various stick forms and screw-adjusted frogs. After 1770, he standardized his designs, adopting the 'Cramer' bow's higher, heavier head. His career was significantly impacted by the French Revolution, leading his brother, François Xavier, to take the lead in modern bow development. Surviving examples of his work feature round sticks of tropical hardwoods and evolving frog designs, with pieces held in the Musée de la Musique, Paris.
Auction price history
Highest auction price
26 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viola Bow | Amourette stick, head and handle blemishes, otherwise good condition Lot 245 | Laurent | June 2024 | £5,471est. € 6.000-8.000 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, later frog, button of the Fonclause school, head and mortice restorations, frog blemish Lot 280 | Laurent | June 2024 | £9,301est. € 8.000-10.000 |
| Cello Bow | 78.5 g. Amourette | — | December 2011 | £19,022 |
| Cello Bow | Ivory 55.4 g. no hair or winding | — | March 2011 | £4,743 |
| Violin Bow | 56 g. violin or viola bow, Exotic wood, no hair / winding (frog & button later) | — | December 2010 | £3,314 |
| Viola Bow | --/-- 63.5 g. (button later) | — | December 2010 | £4,660 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 54.5 g. frog & button made by "Persois", also with replica frog & button | — | April 2010 | £21,997 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 75.5 g. | — | April 2010 | £31,424 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 78 g. Paris Ascribed to | — | October 2009 | £4,800 |
| Violin Bow | 51 g. without hair or winding | — | June 2009 | £16,076 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58.5 g. | — | March 2009 | £11,700 |
| Cello Bow | Ebony 80.4 g. Exotic wood (frog & button a copy) | — | November 2008 | £3,593 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57.5 g. France, 1780 c. Attributed to | — | October 2008 | £3,000 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 54 g. Paris, 1790 c. (later frog) Probably by & Lit: The Cooper Collection | — | March 2008 | £6,000 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 50 g. without hair or winding (frog and button of "Voirin" school) | — | December 2007 | £10,636 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 74.5 g. Paris, 1785 c. Probably by | — | April 2007 | £7,884 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 54 g. Paris, 1790 c. Probably by | — | November 2006 | £1,920 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57.5 g. Ascribed to and possibly by | — | May 2006 | £9,198 |
| Violin Bow | ?/? 43.5 g. without hair or wrapping | — | December 2005 | £4,789 |
| Violin Bow | 55.5 g. Exotic wood | — | December 2005 | £5,188 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58.5 g. Frog by "Jacob Eury" | — | November 2005 | £8,538 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57 g. (spliced under winding) | — | June 2005 | £5,143 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 53.5 g. | — | December 2004 | £9,360 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. (head spline) | — | October 2004 | £1,262 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 50 g. (minor blemishes) | — | December 2002 | £12,387 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. (later frog & button) | — | October 2002 | £7,256 |
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Maker Overview
Life
Nicolas Leonard Tourte (1746-c.1807) was born in 1746 and died around 1807 in Paris, France. He was a bow maker, known as Tourte l'ainé, and was the son and pupil of Nicolas Pierre Tourte. Recognized as one of the first specialist bow makers, he is also considered the founder of the great French tradition of the archetier. He trained with his father from approximately 1756 and worked independently after his father's death in 1764, operating in the 'Quinze Vingts Hospice' area of Paris. Initially, he produced bows in various fashionable forms, including those with straight and convex sticks, already incorporating screw-adjusted frogs. After 1770, his work became significantly more standardized, as he adapted his style to incorporate the higher, heavier head of the 'Cramer' bow, a design widely adopted after being championed by the virtuoso Wilhelm Cramer. In 1780, Tourte relocated to 3 Place de l'École, situated opposite the instrument shop of J-B.Salomon, where he was joined by his brother François Xavier. However, the challenging conditions of the Revolution and the subsequent 'reign of terror' made his existence very difficult, and Nicolas Léonard appears to have gone into hiding. His career never fully recovered, and François Xavier subsequently took the initiative in the development of the modern bow.
Characteristics
- Specialization
- Nicolas Leonard Tourte is recognized as one of the first specialist bow makers.
- Early Bow Design
- He made bows in various fashionable forms, featuring straight and convex sticks, and already incorporated screw-adjusted frogs.
- Adaptation to 'Cramer' Bow
- After 1770, his work became more standardized, adapting to the higher, heavier head of the 'Cramer' bow.
- Surviving Examples
- The small number of surviving examples feature round sticks made of various tropical hardwoods, with variable length and form.
- Frog Evolution
- Frogs were initially 'open' ivory, later evolving to a more modern form and crafted from various materials.
- Brands
- His bows were branded with 'TOURTE LAUX 15 VINGTS', 'TOURTE L', and 'TOURTE [Millant/Raffin]'.
Influence and legacy
- Training: He was the son and pupil of Nicolas Pierre Tourte, training with his father from approximately 1756.
- Foundational Role: He is considered the founder of the great French tradition of the archetier.
- Family Collaboration: His brother, François Xavier, joined him in his workshop at 3 Place de l'École.
- Founding Tradition: Nicolas Leonard Tourte is credited as the founder of the great French tradition of the archetier.
- Family Continuity: Although his career was impacted by the Revolution, his brother François Xavier took the initiative in the development of the modern bow, building upon the family's foundational work.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
TOURTE, Nicolas Léonard Born 1746, d.c.1807 Paris France. Bow maker, known as Tourte l’ainé. Son and pupil of Nicolas Pierre Tourte, below. One of the first specialist bow makers known and the founder of the great French tradition of the archetier. Trained with his father from c.1756. Worked alone after his death in 1764, in the ‘Quinze Vingts Hospice’ area of Paris. He was successful, making bows in the various forms then fashionable, with straight and convex sticks, although already with screw adjusted frogs. His work became much more standardised after 1770, when the type of bow espoused by the virtuoso Wilhelm Cramer was widely taken up. Tourte changed his style to incorporate the higher, heavier head of the ‘Cramer’ bow. In 1780 Tourte moved to 3 Place de l’École, opposite the instrument shop of J-B.Salomon, and was joined by his brother François Xavier. However, shortly after this, the conditions of the Revolution and the following ‘reign of terror’ made existence very hard, and Nicolas Léonard seems to have gone into hiding. His career never fully recovered and François Xavier took the initiative in the development of the modern bow. The small number of surviving examples have round sticks of various tropical hardwoods, variable in length and form. The frogs at first are ‘open’ ivory, later of more modern form and in various materials. Examples held in the Musée de la Musique, Paris. Brand: TOURTE LAUX 15 VINGTS, TOURTE L, and TOURTE [Millant/Raffin]
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