A Viola Bow by Claude Joseph Fonclause

Claude Joseph was born on April 24, 1799, in Luxeuil, a small town near Mirecourt. He began his training at a very young age, starting with Etienne Pajeot when he was just eight years old. He worked with Pajeot until he moved to Paris in 1832, during which time he crafted numerous bows. Pajeot's influence is evident in Fonclause's early work.

After marrying Catherine Louise Contal in 1826 and having two children, Nicolas and Maurice Sebastien—who would also become luthiers—Fonclause relocated to Paris in 1832 to work for Vuillaume. He spent the next ten years in Vuillaume's workshop, honing his technique and style. It is likely that he was the originator of Vuillaume's self-rehairing bows, as Pajeot accused J.B. Vuillaume of appropriating this idea.

In 1840, Fonclause left Vuillaume's workshop but continued to build bows for him throughout his career. He moved to Rue Pagevin, where he established his own workshop near fellow Vuillaume alumnus Joseph Henry. Over the next decade, his style evolved significantly, coming to closely resemble that of Simon, suggesting a close collaboration between the two craftsmen.

Today, Fonclause's bows are exceptionally rare and highly sought after. The elegance of his making is evident in this bow fashioned out of amourette with his distinctive head model that seems to nod toward earlier Tourte work. This bow comes with the original open trench frog and ivory button but is currently mounted with a silver and ebony replica to help facilitate international travel.