Francois (II) Lupot
Orleans, 1774–1838
François (II) Lupot (1774-1838) was a prominent French bow maker, the younger son and pupil of François Lupot (I). Initially a violin maker of limited talent, he transitioned to specializing in bow making after his father's death in 1804, establishing his own workshop in Paris in 1815. He is credited with inventing the "coulisse" or underslide for the bow frog and refined his work from 1830, favoring round sticks and delicate detailing. His bows, often branded "LUPOT," were influenced by Tourte and are still highly regarded.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
102 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Lupot, later ebony frog with pearl eye, later button Lot 138 | — | October 2025 | £16,800est. £ 15,000-20,000 | |
| Cello Bow | Not original ivory frog and button, stick and handle blemishes, frog and button cracks, good condition Lot 138 | Laurent | June 2024 | £6,382est. € 6.000-8.000 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick unstamped, insert to handle Lot 46 | Tarisio | March 2024 | £25,960est. £ 22,000-35,000 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick unstamped, frog and button by Nicolas Leonard Tourte Lot 73 | Tarisio | March 2024 | £11,254est. $ 12,000-18,000 |
| Violin Bow | Silver mounted, octagonal stick, later ebony frog, very good condition Lot 10 | Piguet | March 2024 | £8,907est. CHF 10,000-15,000 |
| Silver mounted, later frog and button, unhaired and unlapping, mortice chip, frog crack, good condition Lot 35 | — | November 2023 | £9,730est. € 8.000-10.000 | |
| Silver mounted, round stick, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver and ebony button Lot 259 | — | October 2023 | £4,560est. £ 4,000-6,000 | |
| Silver mounted, stick and head blemishes, otherwise good condition Lot 50 | — | June 2023 | £36,333est. € 20.000-25.000 | |
| Silver mounted, unhaired and unlapping, broken stick, frog and head blemishes, handle and frog cracks Lot 89 | — | June 2023 | £5,877est. € 2.000-2.500 | |
| Silver mounted, round stick, ebony frog, unlapping, frog restoration, bottom slide not original Lot 29 | — | May 2023 | £25,420est. € 18.000-20.000 | |
| Silver mounted, signed Lupot, unlapping, minor stick and head blemishes, otherwise good condition Lot 180 | — | December 2022 | £21,423est. € 20.000-25.000 | |
| Silver mounted, thin hair, frog and handle blemishes, frog crack, handle wear, otherwise good condition Lot 250 | — | December 2022 | £29,992est. € 25.000-30.000 | |
| Silver mounted, thin hair and lapping, minor stick and head blemishes, minor handle wear, good condition Lot 387 | — | June 2022 | £21,132est. € 20.000-25.000 | |
| Stick only, signed Lupot under the lapping, blemishes, head restoration, fair condition Lot 783 | — | June 2022 | £2,323est. € 1.000-1.200 | |
| Luben Yordanoff collection, silver mounted, later bottom slide, minor stick and head blemishes, wear Lot 230 | — | December 2021 | £30,607est. € 20.000-25.000 | |
| Silver mounted, signed LUPOT, ebony frog, not original button, stick blemish, good condition Lot 31 | — | June 2021 | £7,252est. € 6.000-7.000 | |
| Silver mounted, unlapping, stick and head blemishes, minor handle and frog cracks, minor handle wear Lot 80 | — | June 2021 | £25,653est. € 18.000-20.000 | |
| Frog by J. Henry, button of the Voirin school, unhaired and unlapping, stick restoration, frog cracks Lot 76 | — | December 2020 | £5,040est. € 2.000-3.000 | |
| Frog of the period but probably not original to the stick, cracks frog and thumb projection filed very badly Lot 123 | — | October 2020 | £18,000est. £ 10,000-15,000 | |
| Bernard Millant collection, silver mounted, silk lapping, minor stick and head blemishes, handle wear Lot 270 | — | November 2019 | £58,531est. € 30.000-35.000 | |
| Bernard Millant collection, illustrated in L'Archet tome I p. 294 n. 1, amourette stick, open frog Lot 345 | — | November 2019 | £6,161est. € 6.000-8.000 | |
| Silver mounted, branded Lupot, unlapping, minor stick and head blemishes, otherwise good condition Lot 340 | — | June 2019 | £17,537est. € 10.000-15.000 | |
| Silver mounted, round stick stamped twice Lupot Lot 121 | — | March 2019 | £8,260est. £ 7,000-10,000 | |
| Silver mounted, later frog and button, unlapping, later bottom slide, head and frog blemishes Lot 145 | — | December 2018 | £16,034est. € 8.000-10.000 | |
| Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Lupot Lot 10 | — | June 2018 | £14,400est. £ 15,000-22,000 | |
| Silver mounted, round exotic wood stick stamped Lupot Lot 95 | — | February 2018 | £18,029est. $ 20,000-30,000 | |
| Bernard Millant collection, silver mounted, unlapping, stick and head blemishes, good condition Lot 85 | — | November 2017 | £42,240est. € 40.000-50.000 | |
| Bernard Millant collection, silver mounted, stick blemish, ebony frog, good condition Lot 95 | — | November 2017 | £31,680est. € 30.000-35.000 | |
| Silver mounted, round stick unstamped, button not original to the stick Lot 107 | — | October 2017 | £4,330est. £ 6,000-9,000 | |
| Silver mounted, round stick faintly stamped to the handle and under the lapping Lupot Lot 116 | — | June 2017 | £16,000est. £ 20,000-30,000 | |
| Silver mounted, unhaired and unlapping, stick and frog blemishes, handle wear, otherwise good condition Lot 88 | — | June 2017 | £4,176est. € 4.000-5.000 | |
| Silver mounted, octagonal stick unstamped, button not original Lot 125 | — | May 2017 | £11,097est. $ 18,000-25,000 | |
| Silver mounted, round stick stamped Lupot à Paris Lot 49 | — | October 2016 | £24,204est. $ 25,000-40,000 | |
| Silver mounted, octagonal stick unstamped Lot 88 | — | October 2016 | £16,520est. £ 14,000-18,000 | |
| Silver mounted, octagonal stick unstamped, frog and button by Nicolas Leonard Tourte Lot 103 | — | June 2016 | £14,400est. £ 8,000-12,000 | |
| Silver mounted, exotic wood stick, minus hair, thin lapping, handle and button blemishes Lot 250 | — | June 2016 | £7,731est. € 5.000-6.000 | |
| Round stick stamped twice under the lapping, original open trench ebony frog and nickel mounted button Lot 131 | — | March 2016 | £17,700est. £ 15,000-22,000 | |
| Silver mounted, minor wear to the handle, ferrule possibly not original, otherwise very good condition Lot 201 | — | March 2016 | £20,400est. £ 20,000-30,000 | |
| Silver mounted, round stick stamped to the audience side Lupot, button later Lot 147 | — | October 2015 | £15,300est. $ 20,000-30,000 | |
| Gold mounted, round stick stamped LUPOT, repairs to butt end Lot 49 | — | April 2015 | £4,903est. $ 5,000-7,000 | |
| Silver mounted, unhaired and unlapping, head restoration Lot 481 | — | December 2014 | £3,014est. € 2.000-3.000 | |
| Silver mounted, octagonal stick unstamped, frog by the maker but from another bow, button later Lot 178 | — | October 2014 | £11,256est. $ 8,000-12,000 | |
| Silver mounted, unhaired and unlapping, button missing, handle and frog blemishes Lot 328 | — | June 2014 | £5,322est. € 5.000-6.000 | |
| Silver mounted, round stick unstamped, button later Lot 86 | — | March 2014 | £22,800est. £ 7,000-10,000 | |
| Silver mounted, branded, unhaired and unlapping, head and frog blemishes, otherwise good condition Lot 242 | — | December 2013 | £1,991est. € 3.000-4.000 | |
| Silver mounted, octagonal stick, ebony frog with pearl eye and later backplate Lot 112 | — | May 2013 | £12,000est. £ 10,000-15,000 | |
| Silver mounted, unstamped, frog and button later, pinned to the head Lot 127 | — | May 2013 | £2,312est. $ 3,000-5,000 | |
| Silver mounted, round stick stamped Lupot, later mounts Lot 188 | — | June 2012 | £10,800est. £ 4,000-6,000 | |
| Silver mounted, branded under the lapping, frog and button also by Lupot but not original to the stick Lot 71 | — | June 2012 | £9,600est. £ 8,000-12,000 | |
| Silver mounted, stamp partially visible L..., frog and button later Lot 58 | — | April 2012 | £2,967est. $ 6,000-9,000 | |
| Stamped twice under the lapping Lupot Lot 59 | — | April 2012 | £9,641est. $ 10,000-15,000 | |
| Violin Bow | S/N/E 61.5 g. | — | December 2011 | £11,625 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 62.0 g. without hair, frog & tinsel lapping Probably by "Sartory" | — | November 2011 | £6,015 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 79 g. (later frog) Probably by | — | October 2011 | £6,336 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 60.0 g. Attributed to | — | June 2011 | £840 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 64 g. violin or viola bow Attributed to | — | March 2011 | £2,750 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. 1820 c. | — | October 2010 | £12,000 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 62.5 g. (splined head, ferrule later) | — | April 2010 | £4,321 |
| Viola Bow | S/E 60.5 g. | — | April 2010 | £6,164 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58.0 g. Attributed to | — | April 2010 | £1,964 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 80.5 g. Attributed to | — | April 2010 | £9,040 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 56 g. Paris, 1825 c. | — | March 2010 | £23,750 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 75 g. France, 1810 c. Attributed to | — | October 2009 | £2,532 |
| Viola Bow | N/E 68.0 g. (frog & button not original) Possibly by | — | March 2009 | £1,100 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. (small crack on head) (frog & button of the period) | — | December 2008 | £3,276 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 61 g. Paris, 1820 c. Probably by | — | November 2008 | £6,187 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 63 g. Paris, 1825 c. (later adjustor) Probably by | — | March 2008 | £14,900 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 56 g. without hair or winding (frog & button not original) | — | December 2007 | £12,764 |
| Violin Bow | 50.5 g. without hair or winding (frog & button not original) | — | December 2007 | £11,062 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 53.5 g. without lapping (minor check behind head) | — | October 2007 | £7,996 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 54.5 g. (frog & button not original) | — | October 2007 | £5,140 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 55.0 g. | — | May 2007 | £3,467 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57 g. 1840 c. (with tinsel wrap) | — | May 2007 | £3,535 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 55.0 g. Ivory button | — | March 2007 | £5,175 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 80 g. | — | December 2006 | £19,973 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 53.5 g. (minor lift to the underside of the stick) | — | November 2006 | £15,037 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 54 g. Paris, 1825 c. | — | November 2006 | £7,200 |
| Violin | 52.5 g. without lapping (frog and button not original) | — | June 2006 | £7,285 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 49 g. without hair or winding | — | June 2006 | £2,428 |
| Violin Bow | N/E 47 g. without hair or winding (button of the period) | — | June 2006 | £1,376 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 56 g. | — | November 2005 | £2,280 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. includeds frog & button copy | — | June 2005 | £3,220 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 78 g. | — | October 2003 | £14,558 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 54 g. | — | March 2000 | £6,900 |
| Violin Bow | N/E 49 g. | — | June 1999 | £2,146 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 62 g. | — | November 1997 | £3,450 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | June 1996 | £1,725 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 55 g. | — | March 1996 | £4,830 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 52 g. | — | June 1995 | £2,990 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57 g. | — | March 1995 | £2,990 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57 g. | — | November 1994 | £5,290 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 52 g. | — | April 1993 | £3,450 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 59 g. | — | June 1991 | £4,840 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 58 g. | — | March 1990 | £7,700 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 83 g. | — | November 1989 | £7,700 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 58 g. | — | September 1989 | £4,620 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | November 1988 | £2,530 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 55 g. | — | June 1988 | £2,420 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 75 g. | — | June 1984 | £1,630 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 57 g. | — | January 1981 | £1,956 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 66 g. | — | January 1981 | £2,200 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | November 1980 | £660 |
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Maker Overview
Life
François (II) Lupot (1774-1838) was born in 1774 in Orleans, France. Sources contain conflicting information about his death date; The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers by John Dilworth states he died in 1838 in Paris, France, while A Dictionary of Violin Makers by Cecie Stainer indicates he died on February 4, 1837, in Paris. He was the younger son and pupil of François Lupot (I). François (II) Lupot initially began his career as a violin maker, though his talent in this area was considered unexceptional. He remained in Orleans for a short period after his father and brother relocated to Paris. Upon joining them in Paris, he encountered F. Tourte. Following his father's death in 1804, he increasingly specialized in bow making and may have worked as an assistant to L. Tourte. He established his independent workshop in 1815 at 18 rue d'Angevilliers, where he focused exclusively on bow making until his death.
Characteristics
- Violin Making
- François (II) Lupot's violins were considered to be of unexceptional talent, or "less good,".
- Bow Making Specialization
- He became primarily renowned as a bow maker.
- Innovation
- He initiated the "coulisse," also known as an underslide or metal groove, which is attached to the top face of the frog and bears on the stick, a useful contrivance that has been in use ever since.
- Refinement
- From 1830, his bow work became further refined, transitioning from octagonal sticks to generally round sticks with more delicate detailing.
- Materials
- Gold mounts were very rare in his work, as he preferred nickel silver.
- Branding
- After 1820, he branded his bows under the lapping with "LUPOT" in two different sizes, sometimes adding "A PARIS."
- Violin Label
- His violin label read: "François Lupot, Luthier / Élève de Antonius Stradivarius / Rue de Gramont à Paris l’an 1798." However, Lütgendorff notes that this claim of being a pupil of Stradivari was inaccurate, even if interpreted as a spiritual mentorship.
- Style
- His beautiful bows were closely copied from the Tourte bow.
- François Lupot, Luthier
Élève de Antonius Stradivarius
Rue de Gramont à Paris l’an 1798John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Mentorship: He was a pupil of his father, François Lupot (I).
- Artistic Influence: He was influenced by bows made by 'Lolli'.
- Professional Encounters: He evidently encountered F. Tourte in Paris.
- Collaboration: He may have worked as an assistant to L. Tourte.
- Assistants: In his later period, he was assisted by J. R. Lafleur and D. Peccatte.
- Succession: D. Peccatte succeeded to his workshop in 1837.
- Enduring Appeal: His bows are still much liked today.
Further Information
- Workshop Location: From 1815, his independent workshop was located at 18 rue d'Angevilliers in Paris.
- Branding Details: His bows were branded "LUPOT," sometimes with "A PARIS" added, and the branding appeared under the lapping after 1820.
- Material Preference: He generally preferred nickel silver for mounts over gold.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
LUPOT, François (II) Born 1774 Orleans, died 1838 Paris France. Bow maker. Younger son and pupil of François Lupot (I), above. Began as a violin maker of unexceptional talent, but influenced by bows made by ‘Lolli’. Remained in Orleans for a short time after his father and brother removed to Paris, but once he joined them there, he evidently encountered F. Tourte. From the death of his father in 1804, he became more specialised in bow making, and may have worked as an assistant to L. Tourte. Established independently 1815 at 18 rue d’Angevilliers. After 1820 he branded the bows under the lapping, and initiated the ‘coulisse’ or underslide to the top face of the frog bearing on the stick. From 1830 his work is further refined, the use of octagonal sticks ending, replaced by generally round sticks and more delicate detailing. Assisted in this period by by J. R. Lafleur and D. Peccatte, the latter succeeding to the workshop in 1737. Gold mounts in general very rare, Lupot preferring nickel silver. Bows branded: LUPOT, in two different sizes, someties with A PARIS added. Violin label: François Lupot, Luthier / Élève de Antonius Stradivarius / Rue de Gramont à Paris l’an 1798 [Millant/Raffin]
Cecie Stainer+
Son of François Lupot (1736-1804); b. 1774, Orleans; d.Feb. 4, 1837, Paris. From 1815 until his death he worked in Paris at 18, rue d’Angivilliers at making bows only. He invented the ” coulisse,” or metal groove attached to the nut, and carefully fitted to the stick on which it works, a very useful contrivance, which has been in use ever since. He made beautiful bows, closely copied from the Tourte bow; they are still much liked.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Sohn von François I. L. und Bruder von Nicolas. Er war hauptsächlich
als Bogenmacher berühmt. Seine Geigen sind weniger gut; auf seinem Zettel
bezeichnet er sich als einen Schüler von Stradivari, was aber nicht einmal dann
stimmt, wenn man annehmen wollte, dass er damit nur ausdrücken wollte, dass er
ihn als seinen geistigen Lehrer betrachtete.
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