Adolf Thomä Violin Bow Hohendorf, Germany circa 1910-1920 – CURRENTLY OUT ON TRIAL –

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Stamped:

In 18th and 19th century Germany bow making was a patriarchal or a family craft, and to some extent still remains so today in the making world. There was a respect to the master, which in many cases was a father, uncle, or grandfather, or to another highly respected workshop member. This was someone who had the gift of teaching. Just like myself, young people trained as apprentices, then became journeyman, before even being considered a master or ready to take a making exam. In some cases, the journeyman stage was shortened if their abilities were remarkable and they were sought after for their sticks by famous players. Most makers started as children in the family workshop and were already highly trained by the time they were teenagers. This is how I also trained in this craft and developed as a restorer and builder, guided by a master craftsman, a German violin maker who lived close by. I developed a passion for the violin trade and had parents that encouraged me in what I did. Learning these skills and taking the time for almost nine years was better than fun; I’m now in my 50th year of learning and 37th year with my own shop.

Adolf Thomä (1872-1961) followed this pathway too. He was born in Barendorf in 1872 and learned bow making from Hermann Thomä, his father. He set up his own shop in 1891 in Hohendorf, near Bad Brambach. Adolf was one of the first bow makers from that region around Bad Brambach to regularly stamp his bows. He had two sons, Albert and Arthur, who also became bow makers, and both started out with their father Adolf. We have one of Arthur’s bows in our showroom. It is gorgeous too.

Adolf, the fathers bow is older pernambuco wood in octagonal section and red/brown in color. The bow is sterling silver mounted, and the head is slightly bell-shaped. The octagonal stick is intentionally thin and well planned out with balanced proportions. The stick is gorgeous. The ebony frog has single mother-of-pearl eyes and a one-piece silver heel. The frog is original with a three-piece endscrew and a mother-of-pearl end on the button. The throat in the frog was altered sometime in the last 80-90 years, not by me in the shop. I have left the frog as is, just pointing it out. The winding is silver tinsel with goat leather for the thumb that I kept to so the gram weight and balance would stay right on. I love how the bow plays and how balanced the stick is. It is a delight to play, it feels nice in the hand, and its handling is first rate.

Weight fully haired 60.1 grams