Heinz Dölling Violin Bow- Erlbach, Germany circa 1950

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In Europe, especially France and Germany, bow making was a patriarchal or family craft, and to some extent still remains so today in the making world. There was a deference to the master, which in many cases was a father, uncle, or grandfather, or to another highly respected workshop member. 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 their sticks were sought after by famous players. 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 are able to evolve quickly as good players within 5-6 years in their early teen years. 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: my grandmother being a serious violin player, my dad being a teacher and bird carver, and I grew up close to a German violin maker. That is how I grew up and developed into owning my own violin workshop business. I have a passion for the violin trade and the work has been better than fun, now in our 37th year.

Heinz Dölling (1913-2001) followed this pathway too. He learned the art of bow making in the workshop of Otto Dölling, his father. After he finished his apprenticeship, he continued to work in his parents’ shop. He completed his master’s examination in Markneukirchen in 1947 and set up his own shop at that time in Wernitzgrün. In 1965 Heinz moved his workshop to the neighboring town of Erlbach. The circumstances of the socialist German Democratic Republic governed by the Russians were not favorable for an independent craftsman and as a result Heinz Dölling used the annual Leipzig trade fair as his primary vehicle in developing and moving his bows; using both his craftsman and business skills, he was able to establish himself as an internationally renowned bow maker. His bows follow the working traditions of German bow making while also exhibiting a bit of his personal style. Our bow is pernambuco specie, octagonal in section, and sterling silver mount. The frog is ebony, mounted in sterling, with his logo stamped on the frog. The endscrew has and octagonal middle section, gorgeous, made from mother-of-pearl and ebony. The bow is all original and is in very good condition.

Weight fully haired 63.0 grams