Old German Violin Bow Stamped E. Martin- Sachsen, Markneukirchen Area circa 1900

click picture to enlarge

Stamped:

The stamp is barley legible. This is a good sign. The stick and frog show natural playing wear from many decades of playing. Saxony was the region, at the turn of the century, that was and still is known for its wood workers, carvers of string instruments, and bow making. This bow was a player’s favorite, and wow was it dirty. I purchased this bow on a vacation trip in the Adirondacks which is in Upstate New York. The bow has gorgeous old wood that is dark chocolate in color. I date the bow to be easily over 100 years old. It took a few days to get the stick and the jewelry components on the frog cleaned up and ready for the showroom. I added a new nickel silver winding, goat leather for the thumb grip, and fresh hair. The pernambuco stick is round-section, has a nice patina on the finish, and a camber that is more gradual as it drops from the head. The ebony frog has a slight flange at the base of its edges and is a Parisian eye model. The frog is made well and what captured me was the quality of the mother-of-pearl slide and eyes. It is totally wow! and so beautiful in wave pattern with flecks of pink, blue, and green. The endscrew has a solid silver cap. The pernambuco stick itself is somewhat firm and plays well. This bow will not be in the showroom for long.

Weight fully haired 61.4 grams