Paul Richard Heberlein Violin Bow- Markneukirchen circa 1935-1940

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Paul Heberlein (1882-1969) apprenticed with H.R. Pfretzschner in Markneukirchen between 1896-1907. Wow, what a place to learn and soak up bow making! Paul was born there and many of his family members were makers and grew up in the violin trade. Markneukirchen was the small rural German city where many young men came to learn the art of bow and instrument making. Paul Richard spent his journeymen years in the Pfretzschner workshop until he opened his own shop in Markneukirchen in 1907. Paul worked in a small workshop, being quite productive and successful well into his later years of life. His bows were sold both in Germany and internationally, particularly to the American market. His primary customers were his brother Theodor Heberlein’s violin shop in Indianapolis, and his good school friend from Markneukirchen who ran the finest violin shop in Philadelphia, William Moening.

This bow is impressive; the excellent pernambuco has a red/brown/orange color and dense tight grain. The fittings are sterling silver and his jewelry work and ebony carving on the frog are exacting to the thousands of the inch. The bow is in excellent condition. It needed nothing but good cleaning, polishing, and fresh hair. Paul Heberlein’s bow clearly shows the H.R. Pfretzschner influence in the head of the bow, with its rounded peak and the transition from the head to the stick. Also, the graduation of the stick to the frog is a study in incrementation with a well detailed plan. The stick is sturdy, octagonal section, and remains the same width for 2/3rds of the stick’s length, then it begins to noticeably taper thinner to the tip. The octagonal facets are precise and slightly rounded- another Wow in my book. The camber occurs quickly right after the head and then rebounds after the middle of the bow. The silver mounted frog and the button were made following a basic Markneukirchen pattern that was used during the first part of the 20th century. The frog has the rounded throat and a slight upward slant leading to the area of the nose which is also a strong reminder of his training which never left him. The bow has sterling silver mounts and the imitation whalebone winding with the leather gives the stick another authentic look and feel. This is a fantastic bow ready for a professional.

Weight fully haired 58.1 grams