Roland G. Penzel, Sterling Silver Viola Bow – Blind Eye Ebony Frog – Made in 2010

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Branded: Roland G. Penzel

This viola bow was completed in 2010 by Roland G. Penzel, a third-generation master bow maker who received his master certification in 1977 in Stuttgart, Germany.
Over 100 years ago Emil Max Penzel, the great uncle to Matthias founded the family business at Erlbach, Germany which was a center for making musical instruments in Vogtland/Sachsen. Max’s early bows were based on French makers. Max’s designs also had his name between two horizontal treble clefs. The next family member was Kurt Penzel and then his son Gerhard Penzel; we have bows in the shop from each. In 1974 Kurt Gerhard Penzel moved his home and the family business to Ostrach. Now Gerhard Penzel’s son Roland leads the commercial side of the business as well as the repair and restoration area while his son Matthias who received his mater qualification at Nurnberg in 2008 concentrates on handmade and commissioned bows.
The wood in this bow was at least 40 years old before the stick was made. It was dried and hand selected pernambuco from the Penzel’s graded wood storage area. It is octagonal in section and the ebony frog is mounted in sterling silver with a three-piece silver end screw. The frog has no eye (blind eye frog), but it does have the Penzel treble clef logo. The tip is made of imitation ivory and the mother-of-pearl is called goldfish, a very classic awabi.
The bow comes with a certificate of authenticity from the maker and is perfect for the up and coming viola player looking for a European stick.

Weight fully haired 70.4 grams.