Grimm Workshop Pernambuco Violin Bow- Berlin circa 1910 -1920

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This is a Carl Grimm workshop violin bow made just after the turn of the century. Carl Grimm (1794-1855) was a German bowmaker, violin maker, and musician. Born in Berlin, he became an accomplished musician and later a fine maker in Berlin. Later in his life he became an instrument maker to the Court in Berlin. He established a prominent violin shop in Berlin 1825 which continued in operation until the turn of the 20th century. Grimm continued work until he died in 1855. His successor in the shop was another fine maker Carl Hellmig (1828–1855), who began working in the Grimm shop in the late 1830’s.

I replaced the original silver tinsel wind and leather thumb with the same old-world silver tinsel wrap and a green silk accent. The rest of the bow is original. The head has a very nice strong lift in the ivory facial giving the tip area a strong look and the bow’s camber is a typical Grimm workshop curve starting early after the head. The bow is pernambuco, octagonal in section, with nickel silver fittings. The pernambuco is orange/brown and incremented very well, not left thick to account for a lesser piece of wood. The Grimm workshop pernambuco supply must have been awesome. They must have had tons of wood and many thousands of board feet that took up a barn or two. This shop was in existence since the mid 1820’s. Just the logistics in obtaining the wood from Brazil in this era and the ebony wood from Africa was a feat. Then to have the knowledge of how to shape them and perfect this art to make a living is something of a miracle too. Bow work is four arts in one: woodworking, leather work, jewelry work, and hair dressing, all combined at a high level to create a bow. The frog has a single mother-of-pearl eye on each side while the mother-of-pearl slide has great color. The bow has a solid button and the heel is one-piece bent around the 90-degree angle held with pin work. The bow is firm in its play and handles off the string articulations with ease. A fantastic German stick with precise details and just a touch of accent color to show off the bow.

Weight fully haired 61.3 grams