TOURTE Markneukirchen Violin Bow circa 1910

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This is a great violin bow, perfect for the player looking for something different with no real maker’s name stamped. Tourte was a famous Parisian maker and violin shop owner of the 19th century. This bow was made in a workshop in or around the town of Markneukirchen, Germany. Historically, Markneukirchen was the German hub of the string trade for centuries. Because of the tremendous growth in violin making during the 1800’s the bow trade followed and became just as well known. In this period many bow making families flourished, employing dozens of craftsmen to meet the need for bows. This is one of those bows from a family shop, but from the early 20th century. This is another bow from my collection of over 40 years, living and growing up in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. As a teenager my father would take me to many estate sales and auctions. We would purchase dozens of old violins/violas/cellos and their bows. Sometimes bunches of old bows, all tied up for sale. I’m averaging one or two bows per week getting restored.

The bow is pernambuco specie, octagonal in section, and nickel mounted. The bow is branded TOURTE on the player’s side of the bow and GERMANY on the butt of the bow. We have gone over the entire bow and it is ready for a new home. The pernambuco wood is choice, old growth wood, dark chocolate in color, and firm in its make up. It is an octagonal section bow tapered in intervals that allowed the maker to make the stick thinner and delicate to handle. The strength of the bow allows for the thinner overall appearance of the stick. The bow has a new winding and leathers. The tip, frog, and three-piece endscrew/button are all original. Yup, a 100 plus year-old bow in beautiful condition. The frog is true to the Markneukirchen style of the late 1800’s with classic single mother-of-pearl eyes and a full one-piece heel with silver pins in the lining. The color in the pearl eyes and slide shimmers. It is an excellent playing bow, light in gram weight, and stayed in control during off the string articulations. I like the bow so much that I almost decided to slide it into my own fiddle case. It is a well thought out stick, made by no beginner, and will make a great addition to a violinist’s quiver of bows.

Weight fully haired 59.7 grams