Bow Valuation, Free and Without Obligation
What is your bow worth? Amati’s specialists give a free bow valuation, for violin, viola and cello bows, at a valuation day near you, online from photographs, or at our London office in Chandos Street. A good bow, antique or modern, can be worth more than the instrument it travels with, which is why we ask people to bring the whole case. There is no charge and no obligation to sell: an honest appraisal from a specialist bow valuer, nothing more.
Prefer to talk? Call +44 (0)20 7099 7114, WhatsApp us or email [email protected].
A gold-mounted violin bow by W. E. Hill & Sons, London
What happens at a bow valuation
If we can help we will, no pressure to sell, just an appraisal of value.
Book your appointment
Choose a valuation day near you and pick a time that suits. Booking takes a couple of minutes, online or by phone.
Meet a specialist
Bring your violin, along with any bows or paperwork. A valuation is a conversation, not an examination. It takes around fifteen minutes, and there is no obligation.
Hear what it's worth
Our specialist will tell you who made your violin, when and where, and what it could achieve at auction today.
Decide in your own time
If you'd like to sell, we'll guide you through consigning to one of our monthly auctions. If not, the valuation is yours to keep.
Bows we've valued have gone on to remarkable results
Among the highest prices achieved at Amati auctions, including buyer's premium.
Silver-mounted cello bow by Eugène Sartory
Gold-mounted violin bow by F. N. Voirin, Paris
Silver-mounted viola bow by Joseph Alfred Lamy père
Where to get your bow valued
Book a bow valuation at our London office at Furlong House, 10A Chandos Street, just off Cavendish Square, or come to a valuation day near you. Elsewhere we choose comfortable, central venues that are easy to reach, and we also visit homes anywhere in the UK.
Appointments are private and unhurried. Whether your bow is a family heirloom or an attic find, you'll leave knowing what you have and what it might be worth. Need a formal written valuation? We also provide probate valuations, insurance valuations and divorce and separation valuations.
Upcoming valuation days
Amati specialists travel the country. Find the day nearest you.
Violin bow valuation and appraisal: questions people ask
How much does a valuation cost?
Nothing. Valuations are complimentary, whether in person, online or by phone, and there is no obligation to sell.
How long does it take?
Around fifteen minutes. A valuation is a conversation, not an examination.
What should I bring?
Your bow, the instrument it lives with if you can manage it, and any paperwork you have. Old receipts, certificates or family letters can all help tell the story.
Do I have to sell my bow?
No. Many people simply want to know what they own. If you do wish to sell, we'll explain how consigning to auction works.
What if I can't get to a valuation day?
You can request an online valuation with photographs, or call us on +44 (0)20 7099 7114 to talk it through.
Could my bow be worth more than my violin?
It happens more often than people expect. The great French makers, Tourte, Peccatte, Voirin, Sartory and Lamy, are collected in their own right, and a bow by one of them can be worth more than the instrument it has spent its life alongside. Which is why we ask you to bring the whole case rather than just the violin.
My bow has a name stamped on it. Does that settle it?
Not on its own. Stamps were applied freely, by workshops, by dealers, and by people hoping you would not look too closely. A great many bows carry a name that was never theirs.