Amati > Makers Archive > F > Joseph Fonclause

Joseph Fonclause

Mirecourt, 1799–1862

Bow maker. Presumed pupil of É. Pajeot, active in Paris from c.1832. Despite assertions in most earlier sources, Millant disputes any significant working relationship with Lupot in Paris. Early work with distinctive brand entirely in the Pajeot style. — John Dilworth

Worked Mirecourt
Made Cello Bow, Viola Bow, Violin Bow

Auction Price History

Highest auction price

£74,092

51 results

Type Details Auction house Sold Price
Silver mounted, octagonal stick unstamped, frog and button by Etienne Pajeot Lot 103May 2025£9,092est. € 12.000-18.000
Violin BowSilver mounted, round stick stamped Fonclause, frog and button later Lot 90TarisioJanuary 2024£9,266est. $ 12,000-18,000
silver mounted, signed, later button, unhaired, head and button blemishes, handle crack, good condition Lot 390November 2023£10,271est. € 10.000-12.000
Silver mounted, round stick unstamped Lot 18March 2023£44,250est. £ 20,000-30,000
Nickel mounted, frog of the Pajeot school, later button, unhaired and unlapping, head and frog blemishes Lot 347June 2022£10,225est. € 3.000-4.000
Exotic wood stick, bone button, unhaired and unlapping, minor stick blemishes, otherwise good condition Lot 244December 2021£4,538est. € 3.000-4.000
Silver mounted, round stick, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver and ebony button Lot 40November 2021£13,200est. £ 12,000-18,000
Silver mounted, not original frog and button, minor stick blemishes, frog crack, handle wear Lot 140December 2020£12,320est. € 11.000-12.000
Silver mounted, iron wood stick, frog and button by F. Lupot II, minus hair, thin lapping, handle blemish Lot 780December 2020£2,335est. € 1.000-1.500
Silver mounted, round stick unstamped Lot 88October 2020£33,000est. £ 15,000-22,000
Silver mounted, unhaired and unlapping, stick and head blemishes, otherwise good condition Lot 340November 2019£43,079est. € 15.000-18.000
Nickel mounted, unlapping, stick and head blemishes, otherwise good condition Lot 183June 2019£12,223est. € 10.000-12.000
Français and Millant collections, illustrated in L'Archet, vol. II, silver mounted, minor frog blemish Lot 142December 2018£74,092est. € 30.000-35.000
Millant collection, illustrated in L'Archet, vol. II, p. 120, n. 13, silver mounted, minor handle blemishes Lot 202December 2018£49,763est. € 30.000-35.000
Silver mounted, round stick unstamped, frog and button also by the maker but from a later bow Lot 120October 2018£10,030est. £ 10,000-15,000
Silver mounted, stick blemishes, ferrule missing, otherwise good condition Lot 230September 2018£2,570est. € 200
Silver mounted, round stick stamped Fonclause, heel plate in nickel Lot 110October 2017£22,800est. £ 10,000-15,000
Silver mounted, later button, minus hair, stick blemishes, otherwise good condition Lot 138June 2017£6,890est. € 5.000-6.000
Silver mounted, round stick, frog and button also by Fonclause but not original to the stick Lot 125February 2017£9,623est. $ 10,000-15,000
Silver mounted, signed, thin lapping, stick blemishes, otherwise good condition Lot 390December 2016£7,108est. € 5.000-6.000
Silver mounted, frog and button by Jacob Eury, minor head and ebony frog blemishes Lot 499December 2015£5,963est. € 5.000-6.000
Silver mounted, signed Etienne Pajeot, thin lapping, minor mortice blemish, otherwise good condition Lot 235June 2015£13,138est. € 15.000-18.000
Silver mounted, unhaired, original silk lapping, good condition Lot 80December 2014£16,952est. € 8.000-10.000
Silver mounted, signed, unhaired, silk lapping, stick and head blemishes Lot 92December 2014£5,274est. € 4.000-5.000
Silver mounted, round Brazilwood stick unstamped, frog and button contemporary replacements Lot 107May 2014£1,274est. $ 1,800-2,500
Amourette round stick unstamped, original open-trench ebony frog and ivory button Lot 17March 2014£5,700est. £ 3,500-5,000
From a private German collection, silver mounted, later frog, button composite, without lapping Lot 167October 2013£5,520est. £ 4,000-6,000
Silver mounted, silk lapping, stick and frog blemishes, otherwise good condition Lot 290June 2013£5,100est. € 8.000-10.000
Exotic hardwood stick unstamped, open trench ebony frog, ebony button Lot 84March 2013£2,400est. £ 2,000-3,000
Nickel mounted, round amourette stick unstamped, ebony frog, button not original to the stick Lot 91November 2012£1,482est. $ 1,500-2,500
Violin BowN/E 60 g. 1830 c. open-trench frog (later adjuster)January 2011£1,551
Violin BowN/E 55.5 g. Attributed toJanuary 2011£881
Violin BowS/E 58.0 g. stamped "Pajeot" Probably byJanuary 2010£7,631
Violin BowG/E 59 g. (later button) Probably byJanuary 2010£3,000
Violin BowEbony 53 g. open frog, bone adjustor, without lappingJanuary 2010£2,500
Viola BowN/E 60.5 g. Exotic wood, no hair or winding (frog by "Fr. Peccatte", button of the period)January 2009£3,264
Violin Bow53 g. Ironwood, without hair or windingJanuary 2009£653
Violin BowS/E 56.5 g. Paris, 1840 c.January 2009£10,285
Violin BowEbony 61.0 g. original open trench frog with Ivory button with modern frog & buttonJanuary 2009£9,600
Viola BowN/E 57 g. Ironwood, without hair or windingJanuary 2009£2,489
Viola BowN/E 62 g. Ironwood, no hair or winding Workshop ofJanuary 2009£519
Violin BowS/E (later button)January 2008£11,605
Cello BowG/E 73 g. without hair and with fine winding (head spline)January 2007£2,978
Violin BowN/E 60.0 g. (repair to cneter of stick)January 2006£1,539
Cello Bow(some mountings missing)January 2006£4,856
Violin BowS/E 55 g.January 2003£3,312
Viola BowS/E 62 g.January 2000£12,984
Violin BowS/E 61 g.January 1999£2,070
Violin BowS/E 57 g.January 1994£3,105
Violin BowS/E 60 g.January 1991£5,500
Violin BowS/E 58 g.January 1981£733

Biographies

The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:

John Dilworth+

FONCLAUSE, Claude Joseph Born 1799 Mirecourt, died 1862 Paris France. Bow maker. Presumed pupil of É. Pajeot, active in Paris from c.1832. Despite assertions in most earlier sources, Millant disputes any significant working relationship with Lupot in Paris. Early work with distinctive brand entirely in the Pajeot style. Joined J. B. Vuillaume, and occupied there until 1840 when he established his own business in rue Pagevin, close to J. Henry. Continued to produce work for Vuillaume, and possibly for Simon, c. 1852-1853. Last period bows in the Pecatte style, often with small brand. Very fine bows, usually round stick, branded in large or small type: FONCLAUSE [Millant/Raffin]

Cecie Stainer+

b. 1800, a la Conte; d. 1865, Paris. First worked with Pageot at Mirecourt then, about 1825, went to Paris and entered the employ of J. B. Vuillaume He became a very clever maker of violin bows, and later, when he started his own business, first in rue Pagevin, then in the rue Montmartre, always marked his bows with his name.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Geschickter Bogenmacher, der, nachdem er bei D. Pecatte in Mirecourt ausgebildet worden war, ber Vuillaume arbeitete. Gegen 1840 machte er sich in
der Rue Pagevin selbstständig und zog dann in seinen letzten Jahren auf den
Montmartre. Seine Bögen tragen seinen Namen als Brandmarke.

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