Sartory is arguably the greatest bowmaker of the 20th century. He began his training with Charles Peccatte, later working with Alfred Lamy, who greatly inspired his work. Sartory set up on his own in 1889, already having established a reputation as an excellent maker among his peers. Even before World War I his reputation had grown so much that he hired several assistants, including Hermann Prell and Otto Hoyer. After the Great War he hired as assistants such fine archetiers as Jules Fetique, Louis Morizot, and Louis Gillet. By having such fine assistants, he was able produce bows to satisfy the ever growing demand for his work, always finishing and perfecting the bows personally. This viola bow is an excellent example of his work, and belonged to the longtime principal violist of the San Francisco Symphony and later the Takacs Quartet, Geraldine Walther. It draws a rich and colorful tone, and is exceptionally easy to handle, facilitating all the technical demands of a world-class violist. It is accompanied by a Raffin certificate.