Amati > Makers Archive > M > Nicolas (II) Maire

Nicolas (II) Maire

Mirecourt, 1800–1878

Bow maker. Presumed pupil of Lafleur and Pajeot, with whom he remained a close associate. Established independently in 1826, the shop named ‘Maire-Contal’ after his wife Ann Contal, from 1828. — John Dilworth

Worked Mirecourt
Made Bass Bow, Cello Bow, Viola, Viola Bow, Violin Bow
Taught by Lafleur and Pajeot
A silver-mounted violin bow by Nicolas Rémy Maire, Paris, circa 1860 — head and frog
Violin by Nicolas (II) Maire. Sold by Amati — from the archive.

Instruments

Auction Price History

Highest auction price

£105,055

184 results

Type Details Auction house Sold Price
Violin BowSilver mounted, unsigned Lot 380VichyDecember 2025£30,694est. € 18.000-20.000
Violin BowNickel mounted Lot 50VichyDecember 2025£25,432est. € 15.000-18.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, minus hair, stick and mortice pieces Lot 93VichyDecember 2025£9,866est. € 12.000-15.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, amourette stick Lot 385VichyDecember 2025£6,577est. € 6.000-8.000
Cello BowNickel mounted Lot 290VichyDecember 2025£15,895est. € 15.000-20.000
Cello BowSilver mounted, round stick stamped faintly J.B. Vuillaume à Paris, ebony frog Lot 134Ingles & HaydayOctober 2025£4,560est. £ 4,000-6,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, interchangeable hair model, thin hair and lapping Lot 140VichyJune 2025£13,153est. € 10.000-12.000
Violin BowSilver mounted Lot 340VichyJune 2025£16,836est. € 12.000-15.000
Violin BowNickel mounted Lot 410VichyJune 2025£15,784est. € 15.000-18.000
Violin BowA silver-mounted violin bow by Nicolas Rémy Maire, Paris, circa 1860 Lot 70AmatiJanuary 2024£25,280est. £ 5,000-10,000
Viola BowNickel mounted, amourette stick, ebony frog, minus hair Lot 104AguttesNovember 2023£5,378est. € 1.000-2.500
Small Cello Bow7/8 size violoncello bow, nickel mounted, amourette stick Lot 649VichyNovember 2023£6,353est. € 800-1.000
Violin BowNickel mounted Lot 140VichyNovember 2023£26,128est. € 20.000-25.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, signed, minus hair Lot 200VichyNovember 2023£67,032est. € 25.000-30.000
Cello BowSilver remounted, thin lapping Lot 340VichyNovember 2023£20,542est. € 15.000-20.000
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver and ebony button, original tinsel lapping Lot 86Ingles & HaydayOctober 2023£50,400est. £ 25,000-35,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick, ebony frog with pearl ring and eye, silver and ebony button Lot 87Ingles & HaydayOctober 2023£33,600est. £ 20,000-30,000
Viola BowRosenberg collection, silver mounted, round stick, ebony frog with pearl eye, tinsel lapping Lot 162Ingles & HaydayJune 2023£54,000est. £ 20,000-30,000
Violin Bowthin lapping Lot 80VichyJune 2023£22,441est. € 10.000-12.000
Violin BowRosenberg collection, silver mounted, round stick, frog and button by another hand of the same period Lot 155Ingles & HaydayJune 2023£18,000est. £ 8,000-12,000
Viola BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick unstamped, frog chevalled Lot 22TarisioMarch 2023£37,300est. $ 10,000-15,000
Violin Bowunmodified frog and button and fitted with replica frog and button Lot 80TarisioMarch 2023£27,353est. $ 27,500-40,000
Violin BowNickel mounted, round stick unstamped Lot 69VichyMarch 2023£6,913est. € 3.000-5.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, frog and button by the maker but non original to the stick, thin lapping Lot 230VichyDecember 2022£21,423est. € 20.000-25.000
Violin BowNickel mounted Lot 330VichyDecember 2022£21,423est. € 15.000-20.000
Cello BowNickel mounted, snakewood stick, minor stick dents Lot 333VichyDecember 2022£10,471est. € 3.000-4.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, round stick, ebony frog with pearl eye, button with two nickel bands Lot 172Ingles & HaydayNovember 2022£24,000est. £ 12,000-18,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, original thin lapping Lot 200VichyJune 2022£73,961est. € 35.000-40.000
Violin BowNickel mounted Lot 280VichyJune 2022£31,698est. € 20.000-25.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, thin hair Lot 330VichyJune 2022£23,245est. € 20.000-25.000
Cello BowSilver mounted Lot 380VichyJune 2022£34,793est. € 20.000-30.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, round stick, ebony frog Lot 71ApolliumApril 2022£18,057est. € 18.000-20.000
Violin BowSilver mounted, original lapping Lot 150VichyDecember 2021£84,432est. € 25.000-35.000
Violin BowSilver mounted Lot 380VichyDecember 2021£51,715est. € 20.000-25.000
Cello BowNickel mounted Lot 395VichyDecember 2021£40,105est. € 40.000-45.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, round stick, ebony frog with pearl eye, nickel and ebony button Lot 41Ingles & HaydayNovember 2021£5,040est. £ 4,000-6,000
Violin BowNickel mounted, signed, thin lapping Lot 200VichyJune 2021£37,411est. € 15.000-20.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, amourette stick Lot 237VichyDecember 2020£3,360est. € 3.000-4.000
Cello BowNickel mounted, faintly stamped N. Maire Lot 380VichyDecember 2020£55,998est. € 45.000-50.000
Cello BowNickel mounted Lot 235VichyDecember 2020£10,304est. € 8.000-10.000
Violin BowSilver mounted, round stick unstamped Lot 139TarisioMarch 2020£20,400est. £ 15,000-22,000
Violin BowNickel mounted, round stick, ebony frog with pearl eye, nickel and ebony button Lot 106Ingles & HaydayMarch 2020£14,400est. £ 12,000-18,000
Violin BowBernard Millant collection, silver mounted, silk lapping Lot 295VichyNovember 2019£40,047est. € 40.000-50.000
Viola BowSilver mounted, round stick, frog and button original to the stick and made by Nicolas Maline Lot 30TarisioMay 2019£20,494est. $ 20,000-30,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick unstamped, frog and button later Lot 123TarisioMay 2019£15,837est. $ 18,000-25,000
Violin BowNickel mounted, round stick unstamped and pinned in front of lapping Lot 53TarisioFebruary 2019£2,664est. $ 1,000-1,500
Violin BowMillant collection, gold mounted, later ferrule and button Lot 165VichyDecember 2018£61,927est. € 50.000-60.000
Cello BowMillant collection, illustrated in L'Archet, vol. II, p. 138, n. 4, and in Les Archets Français, p. 594, n. 8 Lot 235VichyDecember 2018£105,055est. € 75.000-80.000
Violin Bowsilver mounted, signed Vuillaume à Paris Lot 328VichyDecember 2018£16,034est. € 8.000-10.000
Viola BowNickel mounted, round amourette stick unstamped Lot 28TarisioOctober 2018£16,800est. £ 12,000-18,000
Violin Bow Lot 36Brompton'sJune 2018£12,000
Violin BowNickel mounted, round stick stamped Maire, splices under the lapping Lot 36Brompton’sJune 2018£12,000est. £ 10,000-15,000
Viola BowSilver mounted, round stick, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver and ebony button Lot 72Ingles & HaydayMarch 2018£36,000est. £ 15,000-20,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, signed Lot 240ArtcurialDecember 2017£9,544est. € 10.000-12.000
Violin BowBernard Millant collection, silver mounted, faintly stamped Lot 10VichyNovember 2017£31,680est. € 20.000-30.000
Violin BowBernard Millant collection, illustrated in L'Archet, tome II, p. 148 Lot 32VichyNovember 2017£68,640est. € 38.000-40.000
Viola BowBernard Millant collection, silver mounted, later ferrule Lot 82VichyNovember 2017£63,360est. € 55.000-60.000
Violin BowBernard Millant collection, illustrated in L'Archet, tome II, silver mounted Lot 110VichyNovember 2017£47,520est. € 25.000-30.000
Violin BowBernard Millant collection, illustrated in L'Archet, tome II, p. 146 Lot 120VichyNovember 2017£67,584est. € 40.000-45.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, signed, thin lapping Lot 90VichyNovember 2017£20,064est. € 10.000-12.000
Viola Bowsilver mounted, minus hair, thin lapping Lot 280VichyNovember 2017£36,960est. € 25.000-30.000
Viola BowNickel mounted, amourette stick, minus hair, thin lapping Lot 295VichyNovember 2017£8,976est. € 5.000-6.000
Violin BowSilver mounted, thin lapping Lot 300VichyNovember 2017£20,064est. € 20.000-25.000
Viola BowSilver mounted, round stick, frog and button original to the stick and made by Nicolas Maline Lot 40TarisioNovember 2017£18,414est. $ 20,000-30,000
Violin BowNickel mounted Lot 188VichyJune 2017£12,528est. € 3.000-4.000
Viola Bowthin lapping Lot 333VichyJune 2017£10,440est. € 8.000-10.000
Violin BowVuillaume model, silver mounted Lot 40VichyDecember 2016£20,309est. € 10.000-15.000
Violin BowNickel mounted Lot 178VichyDecember 2016£6,093est. € 4.000-5.000
Violin BowGold mounted, round stick stamped N. Maire Lot 87TarisioOctober 2016£16,800est. £ 9,000-13,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, round stick, ebony frog with pearl eye possibly by another hand Lot 54Ingles & HaydayOctober 2016£6,600est. £ 5,500-7,500
Violin BowNickel mounted Lot 135VichyJune 2016£4,243est. € 6.000-8.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, minus hair Lot 228VichyJune 2016£4,431est. € 4.000-5.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, signed Lot 233VichyJune 2016£6,600est. € 3.500-4.000
Violin BowSilver mounted Lot 342VichyJune 2016£9,240est. € 6.000-8.000
Violin BowSilver mounted, later heel Lot 437VichyJune 2016£4,526est. € 2.000-3.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, amourette octagonal stick unstamped, frog and button later Lot 85TarisioFebruary 2016£4,659est. $ 8,000-12,000
Violin BowSilver mounted Lot 330VichyDecember 2015£10,223est. € 8.000-10.000
Violin BowViolin Bow Lot 380VichyDecember 2015£10,649est. € 8.000-10.000
Violin BowSilver mounted, round stick unstamped Lot 101TarisioNovember 2015£17,700est. £ 15,000-22,000
Cello BowSilver mounted, round stick unstamped Lot 6TarisioJune 2015£11,400est. £ 8,000-12,000
Viola BowSilver mounted, round stick, frog and button original to the stick and made by Nicolas Maline Lot 73TarisioMay 2015£24,365est. $ 20,000-30,000
Violin BowNickel mounted, octagonal stick, later ebony frog with pearl eye, later nickel button Lot 46Ingles & HaydayMarch 2015£3,960est. £ 3,500-5,000
Cello BowSilver mounted, round stick, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver and ebony button Lot 62Ingles & HaydayMarch 2015£24,000est. £ 20,000-30,000
Violin BowNickel mounted, unstamped Lot 120TarisioFebruary 2015£2,293est. $ 800-1,200
Violin BowSilver mounted, later nickel ferrule Lot 478VichyDecember 2014£4,238est. € 4.000-6.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, round stick, ebony frog with pearl ring and eye, nickel and ebony button Lot 101Ingles & HaydayOctober 2014£10,560est. £ 6,000-8,000
Violin BowFrom the collection of Schlomo Mintz, silver mounted Lot 390VichyJune 2014£36,767est. € 38.000-40.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, signed Lot 400VichyJune 2014£24,189est. € 25.000-30.000
Cello BowSigned, minus hair Lot 127OgerMarch 2014£41,165est. € 20.000-25.000
Violin BowNickel mounted, round stick unstamped, ivory frog, whalebone lapping Lot 195Brompton’sOctober 2013£4,800est. £ 5,000-7,000
Violin BowShowing many of the qualities often associated with the work of Claude Joseph Fonclause, silver mounted Lot 98TarisioOctober 2013£20,400est. £ 15,000-22,000
Violin BowNickel mounted, unstamped Lot 49ArmorJune 2013£2,579est. € 1.000-1.500
Violin BowNickel mounted, pernambuco stick unstamped Lot 112TarisioJune 2013£15,600est. £ 15,000-22,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, amourette stick stamped Maire, frog and button later Lot 120TarisioMay 2013£2,504est. $ 3,000-5,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, round stick, ebony frog with Paris eye, button with two silver bands Lot 107Ingles & HaydayMay 2013£16,800est. £ 8,000-12,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, round stick faintly stamped, no hair, head spliced Lot 319Brompton’sMarch 2013£3,360est. £ 3,000-5,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, faintly signed Lot 100VichyDecember 2012£29,269est. € 30.000-35.000
Viola BowSilver mounted, round stick, later ebony frog with Paris eye Lot 63Sotheby'sOctober 2012£17,500est. £ 15,000-20,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, round stick unstamped, the mounts contemporary to Maire are possibly by another maker Lot 20Brompton’sMarch 2012£14,400est. £ 12,000-18,000
Violin BowS/E 60 g. (frog later)December 2011£15,852
Viola BowN/E 60 g. Amourette, no hair or winding Workshop ofDecember 2011£1,162
Violin BowS/E 59.5 g. Paris, 1860 c. (adjuster later)October 2011£30,000
Cello BowS/E 75.5 g. Attributed toOctober 2011£8,125
Viola BowN/E 68.5 g. Paris, 1835 c.October 2011£11,250
Violin BowS/E 63.5 g. Amourette stickJune 2011£33,000
Violin BowN/E 59.2 g.June 2011£29,758
Violin BowN/E 60 g.June 2011£16,532
Viola BowS/E 58.0 g. tinsel wrap (adjustor later)October 2010£15,769
Violin BowS/E 62 g. Paris, Mid-19th C. (later frog also by "Maire")October 2010£12,500
Cello BowN/E 78.0 g. Amourette stickJune 2010£9,639
Violin BowN/E 54.5 g. Amourette wood without hair or winding Workshop ofJune 2010£1,139
Cello Bow--/-- 72.5 g. without windingJune 2010£55,922
Violin BowN/E 49.5 g. without hair or windingJune 2010£7,767
Violin BowN/E 55 g. no hair or winding (ferrule later) Workshop ofDecember 2009£2,067
Cello BowS/E 67.5 g. fine winding (frog and button of the period) Workshop ofDecember 2009£8,161
ViolaS/E 64.0 g. Amourette stick, decorated pearl frog, vn bow? Probably byOctober 2009£4,078
Violin BowS/E 62.0 g.October 2009£22,244
Violin Bow43 g. Amourette wood Workshop ofJune 2009£1,867
Violin BowS/E 54.0 g. without hair and lapping Workshop ofMay 2009£1,553
Viola BowS/E 71.5 g. Also ascribed to "Nicolas Eury"March 2009£14,040
Violin BowS/E 61 g. Paris, 1860 c.March 2009£32,450
Violin BowS/E 67 g. 1840 c. (period frog & adjustor by another hand) Attributed toMarch 2009£11,780
Violin BowN/E 58 g. Exotic wood, without hair nor winding Workshop ofDecember 2008£665
Viola BowN/E 68 g. WorkshopOctober 2008£2,782
Violin BowN/E 62 g. (frog & button also by "Maire" but not original)June 2008£16,711
Viola BowN/E 68.0 g. Amourette stick Workshop ofMay 2008£1,199
Violin BowS/E 59 g. France, 1860 c. Attributed toApril 2008£9,400
Cello BowS/E 80 g. Paris, 1850 c.March 2008£14,900
Violin BowN/E 55 g. without hair or windingDecember 2007£10,211
Violin BowG/E 59.0 g. (button not original)October 2007£13,136
Violin BowS/E 58.0 g. Workshop ofOctober 2007£2,569
Cello BowN/E 91 g. Ironwood Workshop ofJune 2007£1,764
Viola BowN/E 73 g. Amourette wood Workshop ofJune 2007£2,004
Violin BowS/E 61 g.June 2007£12,425
Cello BowN/E 60 g. France, 1860 c. Workshop ofApril 2007£2,305
Violin BowN/E 65 g. Attributed toNovember 2006£3,360
Violin Bow60.8 g. Paris, 1855 c.November 2006£0
Viola BowS/E 68 g. 1860 c.October 2006£8,841
Violin BowS/E 60 g. Possibly workshop ofOctober 2006£12,630
Violin BowS/E 57 g. Workshop ofMay 2006£1,770
Violin BowG/T 54 g.November 2005£10,264
Violin BowS/E 60 g.November 2005£8,400
Violin BowN/E 59.5 g.November 2005£5,583
Viola BowN/E 68 g. WorkshopMay 2005£4,036
Viola BowN/E 71 g. WorkshopMay 2005£1,937
Violin BowS/E 61 g.May 2005£8,073
Violin BowN/E 62.5 g.May 2005£4,200
Cello BowS/E 80.5 g.May 2005£12,211
Violin BowN/E 64 g. (some frog blemishes)February 2005£717
Violin BowG/IOctober 2004£2,789
Violin BowN/E 58.5 g. tinsel lapping WorkshopFebruary 2004£3,971
Violin BowS/E 53 g.June 2002£27,477
Bass BowS/EDecember 2001£6,430
Violin BowS/E 60 g.December 2001£15,603
Violin BowS/E 60 g.June 2001£19,259
Viola BowN/E 73 g.May 2001£1,560
Violin BowS/E 59 g.May 2001£12,482
Violin BowN/E 60 g.December 2000£17,535
Violin BowN/E 60 g.December 2000£13,594
Cello BowS/E 79 g.June 2000£21,760
Cello BowS/E 78 g.March 2000£4,600
Cello BowS/E 81 g.June 1999£19,073
Violin BowN/E 62 g.May 1999£3,518
Violin BowN/E 59 g.December 1998£4,264
Violin BowG/T 58 g.November 1998£11,500
Violin BowS/E 60 g.March 1998£10,925
Violin BowS/E 59 g.November 1997£14,970
Violin BowS/E 60 g.November 1995£7,475
Violin BowS/E 59 g.March 1995£2,990
Violin BowS/E 58 g.October 1993£4,025
Cello BowG/E 71 g.July 1993£3,220
Viola BowG/I 66 g.April 1993£2,185
Violin BowS/E 63 g.November 1992£3,300
Violin BowS/E 63 g.November 1990£4,400
Violin BowS/E 63 g.November 1989£6,600
Viola BowN/E 66 g.November 1989£3,850
Violin BowS/A 59 g.June 1989£15,400
Viola BowS/E 70 g.November 1987£3,410
Violin BowS/E 3/4 sizeApril 1987£1,870
Violin BowS/E 59 g.September 1985£770
Violin BowS/E 62 g.November 1984£4,510
Viola BowN/E 71 g.November 1982£1,870
Violin BowS/E 64 g.January 1981£3,422
Cello BowN/E 76 g.May 1980£440

Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

MAIRE Nicolas Rémy Born 1800 Mirecourt, died 1878 Paris France. Bow maker. Presumed pupil of Lafleur and Pajeot, with whom he remained a close associate. Established independently in 1826, the shop named ‘Maire-Contal’ after his wife Ann Contal, from 1828. This commercial business ended during the national economic crisis of the 1830s, but Maire continued to produce bows in fairly large numbers. The firm was re-established 1844, by then with up to 15 employees. Exhibited in Paris in the same year, and moved permanently to Paris in 1853, established at 35 rue de Viarmes. The business subsequently renamed ‘François-Maire’ to acknowledge the collaboration of his son François, above. Moved to 10 rue Burq, c.1876. Produced work for Pajeot, Gand, Vuillaume and Chanot. Strongly influenced by Pecatte in this period. Teacher of several eminent archetiers including J. J. Martin. Usually round sticks of dark red-brown colour, branded: N.MAIRE, N.MAIRE, MAIRE [Millant/Raffin]

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