A Beautiful Pernambuco Violin Bow Stamped Made in Germany- Markneukirchen circa 1900 – CURRENTLY OUT ON TRIAL –

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Stamp:

Germany has a long tradition of making violins and bows that goes back over 400 years. Most German bows were made in a few traditional centers, Mittenwald and the Markneukirchen/Klingenthal central eastern region near the Czech border. We offer a beautiful and fabulous older pernambuco violin bow made I believe in one of these regions of Germany. The player side stamp area is not legible and I’m not sure that the bow ever had a maker’s name. No matter, this is a fantastic bow. It has all the hallmarks of outstanding workmanship. The origin for sure is Germany.

The bow has a one-piece heel with pin work holding the heel in place. The lining is held in with two small screws. The frog is cut in a Parisian eye model with the pearl eyes being small at just under 4.0 mm. The silver rings around the eyes are 1.0 mm. in width. The button is three pieces with a double turn in the collar. The tip is ivory and is in beautiful condition. I have only replaced the nickel silver winding and the leather thumb, everything else is original to the bow. The pernambuco wood is choice. Old stuff that shows a lot of flecks in the wood. The wood is firm in how it plays, and the stick is streamlined in its makeup. I mean it is not thick in its overall structure. This bow is high on my scale of quality.

Bows not branded by a maker was a trait that was left off bows mostly seen on sticks made in the 19th century. Trade laws went into effect in 1887 by Britain to have country of origin placed on all items sold. Many times, that has helped me date bows and violins. Workshops simply did not place their maker’s names on the bow as well as leaving off the country of origin. This gorgeous bow is in fantastic condition. I call it a sleeper, made at the turn of the 20th century. I use the term sleeper because the bow has great performance and high craftsmanship, but not an actual maker’s stamp. The bow shows a little natural playing wear, which is a great sign to see. It is round section, orange/brown choice wood that has darkened above the frog over the many years of playing. This is where the bow is naturally handled. The fittings are nickel silver, and the overall feel of the bow is a Wow at 61.0 grams. The bow is as firm as I want it and the stick is well thought out in its layout. The stick is thinner than many bows with denser wood, older pernambuco in its makeup. I love it. This bow is a gem, a well-made high-quality stick. This bow is ready for another player to enjoy. If I could pinpoint the workshop and the exact maker, this bow could go for much more money.

Weight fully haired 61.0 grams