Guy Jeandel Sterling Pernambuco Cello Bow – Kyoto, Japan 2005

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Kyoto, Japan is a city located on one of the main islands of Japan. It is about 35 miles northeast of Osaka. This city has close 2 million residents and was the capital city of Japan for over 1000 years. Kyoto for many years had a fine bow making workshop where this bow originated from. Jeandel bows were made there for a 20-year period. The shop closed in 2022. This bow is new old stock; a new bow in excellent condition. The cello bow is pernambuco, old wood, a dense stick of deep chocolate color that is firm player. The wood is WOW! The tip or head of the bow is very traditional, not too erect, with a slight swan look; the tip tapers back with excellent knife work on the chamfers. The stick is round section and the mounting on the frog and winding are set in sterling silver. The sterling silver winding is completed with an Asian lizard thumb grip. This 20-year-old bow that I recently re-haired is in excellent to mint condition. Fresh hair and ready to go.

The Jeandel workshop combined French bow making traditions with high quality precise Japanese craftsmanship. Japanese craftsmen are known for their excellent knives and high-grade steel used in their woodworking. I have many Japanese knives, chisels, and a few Japanese saws that could really hurt you. They are wild looking works of art, and they are very sharp. I always use Japanese whetstones to sharpen with. I’ve been using the same stones for 45 years.

The ebony frog cut for the bow shows the French influence in the Parisian eye model frog. The heel and lining are attached with fine silver pins, no screws. The silver work is exceptional jewelry craftsmanship, and all the tolerances are spot on, made at a very high level. The bow is stamped with a workshop numbering system under the frog on the flat. The bow number system used in the shop extends out to bow number 205 by FY. The end button is a silver cap with a beveled end leading to a double turn in the collar. The far end of the button is completed with a 6 mm. mother-of-pearl eye. The slide on the frog is beautiful, featuring layers of pink, some purple, and green hues. Yes, the bow is stunning, but better than that it is a very good playing bow, easy to control, and a stick that delivers on sound production.

Weight fully haired 81.6 grams