L. BAUSCH LEIPZIG Mid to Late 19th Century Violin Bow – A WOW VIOLIN BOW! – SOLD APRIL 26, 2024 –

click picture to enlarge

Branded:
L BAUSCH LEIPZIG

This is an excellent older bow from Leipzig, Germany. For almost a century and a half, up until the start of World War II, in Leipzig the Bausch shop specialized in making bows. At the onset of World War II, their workshop shops were turned in places to make items to support the German war machine. The city was totally laid to ruin by allied bombing by 1944. In the mid 1800’s the Bausch shop would have been headed up by Lugwig Christian August Bausch senior who died in 1863. This stick was made between 1860-1870 during his leadership or slightly after.
I have spent many hours on this bow because it is better than well made and will create a great sound for a player. The stick, which was black and full of dirt when first started, was given the spa treatment in cleaning. I love the actual piece of wood for sure! It’s looking very nice now and the bow has received a new tip, new nickel silver winding, and a new leather thumb grip. The wood is pernambuco and has a tight grain. The color is a subtle orange-brown, and it is in round section. The bow maker determines the stick’s section while working with the wood. In bow making, the maker determines whether to keep the original 175 mm. octagonal area of the bow (where the frog rests) and continue the facets on the stick or change direction and go to the round (or egg) shape in the transitional area of the winding. The bow maker went round from the transition on and it feels superb. The bow is firm with a little bit of flex. The head profile is upright in its form and has a slightly rounded top and a nose that is drawn forward, The chamfers cut on the head are not overdone, simple, and the faceplate curve begins immediately from the back end of the head. The frogs metal lining is attached to the ebony with silver pins – not screws. It has a traditional ebony frog with single mother-of-pearl eyes and a slightly flanged mother-of-pearl slide. The heel plate is all one piece fastened with silver pins. All this is to say that the frog is handmade as well as the entire stick. The bow is finished off with a three-piece endscrew silver/ebony/silver. The playability of the bow is grand, all wrapped up in a lightweight stick with nickel silver mounts. This is a beautiful 150-year-old German bow now in very good condition. I wish it could talk and let us know where it has been. Don’t let the age of the stick scare you. This is a beautiful playing bow ready for another generation to enjoy.

Weight fully haired 59.1 grams