BAUSCH Engraved Violin Bow Markneukirchen/Klingenthal circa 1890-1900

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For over three centuries German luthiers supplied musicians not only with serviceable and affordable instruments but also their bows. This bow is from the late 19th century. In the 1800’s the violin and piano were the most popular forms of musical entertainment. To meet the demand for string instruments, a thriving industry developed in a remote area of eastern Germany on the Czech border, a region known as Western Bohemia. The center of this instrument making industry was the town of Markneukirchen in the state of Saxony. It was by no means a new industry for the area. The area had been the center of German violin making since the early 1600’s and many of these violins and bows were made and shipped to the West. These makers in Markneukirchen and Klingenthal (about 30 miles north) and many surrounding villages had mostly anonymous skilled craftsmen turning out simple but well-made instruments and bows. The elite makers of that day in Saxony would have been trained in and around Markneukirchen and then would have moved on to work in larger cities such as Berlin, Dresden, Munich, and Prague.

This BAUSCH workshop bow is from the late 19th century, and it is a sterling silver mounted bow with engraved silver mounts in the frog. These bows were made under the management of the Paulus family. The Bausch family, makers from 1804-1875 were highly regarded, esteemed in the bow making area of the violin trade. Their bows were known for their outstanding hand work and playability. The family made bows for four generations, beginning with Ludwig Christian August Bausch in the 1820’s. They made superb bows sold as their own and marketed unstamped bows to other shops in Germany, such as the Heinrich Knopf workshop. “BAUSCH” branded bows were still being made while the Bausch shop was under the management of the Paulus family from 1876 up to the 1920’s. This bow was made in the late 1800’s and/or up to 1900. During this era many German shops left off the maker’s name and origin on the stick. I’m not sure if this was done purposely or not, there are no country-of-origin markings on this stick.

I’ve had this stick hanging in our workshop for years waiting to be restored. These older German pernambuco bows are beautiful sticks. The bow got extra cleaning, and careful polish work on the silver. I decided to leave the leather lap and thumb which shows just a little natural wear but is still in very good shape. I replaced one mother-of-pearl eye in the frog on the player’s side. The color of the wood is deep amber/orange/brown, and the stick is in round section. The camber or curve in the stick is gradual and well measured. The grain is tight, and this piece of pernambuco is older stuff, strong, and a fantastic piece of wood. The ebony frog has single mother-of-pearl eyes and is a rounded frog, something slightly different for a violin bow and specifically made for the bow. Yes, a great bow to add to someone’s collection. It will give you another option of sound and response off your violin. A nice sleeper bow, a great playing stick, strong and full of life. The pernambuco wood is discolored above the frog where the bow would have been handled for 100 years. This is actually a good sign to see. This bow was played. The previous owners of this bow took great care of the bow. I’ve had the bow in my collection a sticks to restore for 40 years. It is in great condition.

We have over 500 wood violin bows in our showrooms for you to try. 90% of these bows are pernambuco sticks, many I collected as a young kid, age 13 and into my college years growing up in the New York City area. If it’s an older European bow that you’re looking for, this etched BAUSCH bow might be a perfect fit. The bow feels light in the hand and is balanced well. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are way above average, made in a fine workshop. If the bow could speak it would have some great provenance to hear about. It’s a very nice violin bow worthy of a trial.

Weight haired 63.5 grams