S Finkel – Suisse Violin Bow, circa 1955 – Beautiful Playing Stick!

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Stamped: S FINKEL SWISSE – inverted on players side
Stamped: SWISS MADE – audience Side

Siegfried Finkel (born 1927 – 2010) was born in Markneukirchen, Germany, a town renowned for its instrument and bow makers. Markneukirchen was the hub of German bow makers for over two centuries. Finkel grew up and around some of best makers in the world. He was a pupil of his father-in-law Paul Weidhaas, who was known for his masterful interpretation of French style bows. Siegfried moved to Brienz, Switzerland in 1952 and opened his own atelier because of the sign of the times and the state of the Germany economy after World War II. The Finkel’s are known for their bows, and Siegfried rightfully takes his place among the best of the family. Our bow was made when Siegfried was still a young man.

The bow is fashioned from a lovely dark chocolate color piece of pernambuco. The wood is choice, tight grain, slightly firm but with nice freedom of flex. The stick tastefully tapers from octagonal shape to the delicately shaped masculine head. Oh, did I say I like this bow. His craftsmanship is off the charts! The sterling silver mounted ebony frog is accented by the mother-of-pearl slide and eyes. The pearl is gorgeous, just enough fleck of colors (pink, green & blue) when turned in the light. The frog is fully lined and finished with a three-piece silver and ebony adjuster with a mother-of-pearl inset. The pin work is so delicate, hardly noticeable in the silver lining that mates against the pernambuco and in the heel and endscrew. I’ve taken this bow out and had to play on it. It can handle weight into the strings and I could control the bow well with lighter off the string articulations. This is a neat stick that a player should try. It is something different, well thought out by a fine maker.

Weight fully haired 62.5 grams.