MY HISTORICAL BOWS
A bow for every era
Research and interpretation…
In my opinion, to fully leverage the interpretative techniques of each era and truly enjoy them, it is essential to have an appropriate bow. Playing Fontana, Castello or Frescobaldi is not the same as playing Bach, Biber or Vivaldi, playing Ortiz than Marais. The concept of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ bow, so prevalent in today’s historical bow world, did not convince me. This led me to delve into the research of the different types of bows that could have been used in each period. Surviving examples from those times are scarce, so I sought inspiration in various contemporary treatises (Simpson, Ganassi, Pretorius and, above all, in paintings of the time, depicting instruments and bows existing in those periods.
How do I create these historical bows?
For bows dating back to the early 17th century, I use hard European woods such as yew, beechwood, maple, and some fruitwoods. Although tropical wood was already known by the early 1600s, it is highly likely that bow makers still used local woods, which were easier to obtain and more cost-effective. At times, I enjoy adding a touch of color to these bows by incorporating some exotic woods to craft the frogs.
For bows from the mid-17th century onwards, I use tropical woods such as snakewood, ironwood, bloodwood or pernambuco, which are known to have been used during that era.
The true art is appreciated in my workshop…
Every historical bow tells a story through its design, materials, and manufacturing techniques. After years of study and honing my craft, I use carefully selected woods such as pernambuco, ebony or snakewood.
Baroque Violin Bow 'Acquavella'
Baroque Violin Bow ca. 1600. Custom Model inspired by the bow depicted in the painting ‘Still Life with Violinist’ by Maestro della Natura morta Acquavella. Length: 62.5 cm. Weight: 34 g. Stick in maple wood and walnut frog.
Baroque Violin Bow 'Acquavella'
Baroque Violin Bow ca. 1600. Custom Model inspired by the bow depicted in the painting ‘Still Life with Violinist’ by Maestro della Natura morta Acquavella. Length: 62.5 cm. Weight: 34 g. Stick in maple wood and walnut frog.
Baroque Violin Bow 'Gentileschi'
Baroque Violin Bow ca. 1620. Custom Model inspired by the bow depicted in Orazio Gentileschi’s painting ‘Young woman playing the violin.’ Length: 62 cm. Weight: 40 g. Stick in beechwood and frog in goldfield.
Baroque Violin Bow 'Gentileschi'
Baroque Violin Bow ca. 1620. Custom Model inspired by the bow depicted in Orazio Gentileschi’s painting ‘Young woman playing the violin.’ Length: 62 cm. Weight: 40 g. Stick in beechwood and frog in goldfield.
Baroque Violin Bow 'Cabal'
Baroque Violin Bow ca. 1665. Custom-designed model inspired by the bows depicted in J. B. Medina’s painting ‘The Cabal Ministry.’ Length: 65.5 cm. Weight: 47 g. Made of Pernambuco and olive frog.
Baroque Violin Bow 'Cabal'
Baroque Violin Bow ca. 1665. Custom-designed model inspired by the bows depicted in J. B. Medina’s painting ‘The Cabal Ministry.’ Length: 65.5 cm. Weight: 47 g. Made of Pernambuco and olive frog.
Baroque Violin Bow 'Long Sonata'
Baroque Violin Bow, early 18th century, own design in the ‘long sonata bow’ style. Length: 71.5 cm. Weight: 51 g. Stick made of Pau d’arco and olive frog.
Baroque Violin Bow 'Long Sonata'
Baroque Violin Bow, early 18th century, own design in the ‘long sonata bow’ style. Length: 71.5 cm. Weight: 51 g. Stick made of Pau d’arco and olive frog.
Classical Violin Bow 'Edward Dodd'
Classical Violin Bow, model Edward Dodd ca. 1780, based on an original preserved at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Length: 72.4 cm. Weight: 58 g. Stick made of bloodwood, frog and button in mammoth ivory.
Classical Violin Bow 'Edward Dodd'
Classical Violin Bow, model Edward Dodd ca. 1780, based on an original preserved at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Length: 72.4 cm. Weight: 58 g. Stick made of bloodwood, frog and button in mammoth ivory.
Baroque Viola Bow 'Staedler'
Baroque Viola bow based on an original by Kaspar Städler ca. 1714. Length: 67.2 cm. Weight: 55 g. Stick made of ebony wood and frog in jarrah.
Baroque Viola Bow 'Staedler'
Baroque Viola Bow based on an original by Kaspar Städler ca. 1714. Length: 67.2 cm. Weight: 55 g. Stick made of ebony wood and frog in jarrah.
Baroque Viola Bow 18th Century
Baroque Viola Bow, early 18th century. Custom design. Length: 72 cm. Weight: 59 g. Made of Pernambuco wood, with frog and button in olive.
Baroque Viola Bow 18th Century
Baroque Viola Bow, early 18th century. Custom design. Length: 72 cm. Weight: 59 g. Made of Pernambuco wood, with frog and button in olive.
Classical Viola Bow 'John Dodd'
Classical Viola Bow, model John Dodd from the late 18th century, based on an original found at the Birmingham Conservatoire. ‘Cramer’ style head. Length: 72.5 cm. Weight: 59 g. Stick made in Pau d’arco, with frog and button in olive, and silk winding.
Classical Viola Bow 'John Dodd'
Classical Viola Bow, model John Dodd from the late 18th century, based on an original found at the Birmingham Conservatoire. ‘Cramer’ style head. Length: 72.5 cm. Weight: 59 g. Stick made of Pau d’arco, with frog and button in olive, and silk winding.
Baroque Cello Bow 'Claesz'
Baroque Cello Bow ca. 1620. Custom model inspired by the bow depicted in the painting ‘Still Life with Musical Instruments,’ painted in 1623 by Pieter Claesz. Length: 70.4 cm. Weight: 65 g. Stick made of beechwood, frog in walnut.
Baroque Cello Bow 'Claesz'
Baroque Cello Bow ca. 1620. Custom model inspired by the bow depicted in the painting ‘Still Life with Musical Instruments,’ painted in 1623 by Pieter Claesz. Length: 70.4 cm. Weight: 65 g. Stick made of beechwood, frog in walnut.
Baroque Cello Bow, 18th Century
Baroque Cello Bow, based on an Italian original ca. 1730. Length: 75.2 cm. Weight: 79 g. Stick and frog made of snake wood, button in mammoth ivory.
Baroque Cello Bow, 18th Century
Baroque Cello Bow, based on an Italian original ca. 1730. Length: 75.2 cm. Weight: 79 g. Stick and frog made of snake wood, button in mammoth ivory.
Baroque Cello Bow 'Continuo'
Baroque Cello Bow, early 18th century. Custom model designed specifically for continuo playing. Length: 77 cm. Weight: 77 g. Stick made of pernambuco, rog and button in ebony.
Baroque Cello Bow 'Continuo'
Baroque Cello Bow, early 18th century. Custom model designed specifically for continuo playing. Length: 77 cm. Weight: 77 g. Stick made of pernambuco, frog and button in ebony.
Baroque Cello Bow, mid 18th Century
Baroque Cello Bow, based on an original preserved at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Length: 74.9 cm. Weight: 82 g. Stick and frog made of snake wood, button in mammoth ivory.
Baroque Cello Bow, mid 18th Century
Baroque Cello Bow, based on an original preserved at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Length: 74.9 cm. Weight: 82 g. Stick and frog made of snake wood, button in mammoth ivory.
Classical Cello Bow 'John Dodd'
Classical Cello Bow, model John Dodd ca. 1780, based on an original found at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Length: 70.7 cm. Weight: 70 g. Stick made of ironwood, frog and button in mammoth ivory, with silk winding.
Classical Cello Bow 'John Dodd'
Classical Cello Bow, model John Dodd ca. 1780, based on an original found at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Length: 70.7 cm. Weight: 70 g. Stick made of ironwood, frog and button in mammoth ivory, with silk winding.
Renaissance Bow for Bass Viola da Gamba 'Bologna'
Renaissance Bow for Bass Viola da Gamba. Custom model inspired by an original bow that belonged to the Philharmonic Academy of Bologna since 1608. Length: 74 cm. Weight: 65 g. Stick made of beechwood and walnut frog.
Renaissance Bow for Bass Viola da Gamba 'Bologna'
Renaissance Bow for Bass Viola da Gamba. Custom model inspired by an original bow that belonged to the Philharmonic Academy of Bologna since 1608. Length: 74 cm. Weight: 65 g. Stick made of beechwood and walnut frog.
Renaissance Bow for Bass Viola da Gamba 'Veronese'
Renaissance bow for bass viola da gamba, inspired by bows depicted in the painting ‘The Wedding at Cana’ by Paolo Veronese. Length: 76 cm. Weight: 69 g. Stick made of beechwood and frog in padauk.
Renaissance Bow for Bass Viola da Gamba 'Veronese'
Renaissance bow for bass viola da gamba, inspired by bows depicted in the painting ‘The Wedding at Cana’ by Paolo Veronese. Length: 76 cm. Weight: 69 g. Stick made of beechwood and frog in padauk.
Bow for French-style Bass Viola da Gamba
Bow for French-style Bass Viola da Gamba, custom design. Length: 78 cm. Weight: 77 g. Stick and frog in ebony, button in bone.
Bow for French-style Bass Viola da Gamba
Bow for French-style Bass Viola da Gamba, custom design. Length: 78 cm. Weight: 77 g. Stick and frog in ebony, button in bone.
Bow for Bass Viola da Gamba 'Langham"
Bow for Viola da Gamba, custom design, inspired by the bow depicted in the portrait of Sir John Langham, painted by F. Kerseboom in 1683. Length: 75 cm. Weight: 73 g. Stick made of ironwood, clip-in frog and button in mammoth ivory.
Bow for Bass Viola da Gamba 'Langham"
Bow for Viola da Gamba, custom design, inspired by the bow depicted in the portrait of Sir John Langham, painted by F. Kerseboom in 1683. Length: 75 cm. Weight: 73 g. Stick made of ironwood, clip-in frog and button in mammoth ivory.