Tourte Model Pernambuco Violin Bow- Markneukirchen Area circa 1920 -CURRENTLY OUT ON TIRAL-

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In Europe most makers started as children in the family workshop and were already highly trained by the time they were teenagers. As a maker and violin shop owner I have seen young people today, mostly those that are playing well, at some point just take off. They can develop quickly as good players within 5-6 years in their early teens. They grow in their technical abilities as well as artistically, especially if inspired by a phenomenal teacher, mentor, or parent.

I got totally into carving as a young guy because of my father who was so into birds- song birds and birds of prey. He had trained himself to learn hundreds of calls and carved these same birds at a high level. I believe the Lord called me into the violin trade because of my family too, with my grandmother being a serious violin player, my dad being a teacher and bird carver, and growing up close to a German violin maker. These influences helped shape me and developed me into owning and working in a violin shop. I have a passion for the violin trade, the work has been better than fun, and we are now in our 38th year. If you’re passionate about playing check out this older stick, it might just be the tool that makes your instrument jump with a sound you love. The Tourte name on the bow was a famous French shop owner and maker. Putting a famous name on a workshop bow was commonly done to bows in the early 19th century; giving the stick a French name would help sell the bow.

The bow is pernambuco, octagonal in section, and nickel mounted. This older bow has a lighter gram weight, making it easy to hold and handle. The pernambuco is old and chocolate color. The pernambuco would have been harvested in the 1800’s, transported to Europe, left sitting for 10-15 years to fully dry, and then chosen to become a bow. Then the maker would have selected the piece and begun working and shaping it into a stick. The wood is a darker color, yes older pernambuco wood, nicely planned out and tapered from the head to the frog. The stick is not thick or unruly. The ebony frog block coming from another country of origin would have a similar story. The frog is mounted in nickel silver with the linings and the one-piece heel pinned to mount to the ebony. The frog is a Parisian eye model and has a three-piece button. It is petite in its makeup, and the bottom ferrule portion of the frog protrudes out farther than the top portion of the throat. The winding is nickel silver, and the leather thumb grip was replaced. Before the rehair and leather work I gave the bow a good cleaning and just oiled the stick. A great bow ready for another home.

Weight fully haired 59.9 grams