Friedrich August Herrmann Violin Bow circa 1880 Dresden – CURRENTLY OUT ON TRIAL –

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Stamped:

We have, I believe, a rare bow that was made by a younger Fredrich August Herrmann (1863-1945) and his dad Christian Fredrich Hermann (1818-1896). The bow is not stamped in the usual place on the stick, centered above the frog, but under the winding and jutting out to be slightly visible. The bow is gorgeous, firm pernambuco with so many of the Herrmann hallmarks and C.W. Knopf’s influence. The bow has been meticulously gone over and the frog was cleaned up as was the stick. The silver winding was saved but I don’t believe it to be original to the bow. This is not uncommon. The leathers are new, and I left the head and facial tip as is. The head is upright and shows the Herrmann family’s connection to the Knopf school of the late 19th century. Christian Fredrich worked for the famous Knopf bow makers for most of his adult life, and he married Caroline Wilhelmine Knopf, K.W. Knopf’s daughter, in 1861. The color of the stick has been finished off with orange/brown varnish. The sterling silver mounted frog is flat in appearance, has a slightly long measurement, and the throat is nicely rounded and also slightly long. The heel is one-piece. The three-part button has a French style double collar. All of these attributes can’t be a coincidence. Christian Fredrich, the father who work for Knopf, didn’t stamp his bows and as a result his work cannot be definitely identified.

The bow is a WOW! It handles well with nice response off the strings. If I knew the exact maker and origin of the bow it would go for twice the price- it is that nice! A sleeper for sure that will make a great stick for a player. Age, worn soft edges from players loving playing the bow, and historical. This could easily become a professional’s favorite bow.

Weight fully haired 60.6 grams