The Dölling family of bow makers spans four generations, covering over 125 years. Bernd Dölling apprenticed with his father Heinz passing his Master’s Exam in 1972. He opened his own workshop in 1985 and was joined by his son Michael. The Döllings are are one of the most respected bow making familys in Germany. This viola bow is exceptionally beautiful and is gold mounted. The gold mounted button has pearl eyes on each facet.
Otto Paulus and his son Johannes worked together for many years, taking over the Schuster workshop in the 1950’s. The Paulus family of bow makers is today in its fourth generation, still making excellent bows in Markneukirchen.
After winning a number of gold medals in International bow making competitions, Morgan Andersen has become one of the most important bow makers of his generation.
Read the article on Morgan Andersen here.
The Seifert workshop is one of the most respected German bow making workshops today. This is an especially beautiful bow, gold mounted with highest quality pernambuco. The Seifert workshop was founded almost a century ago in Graslitz, Saxony, moving to Bubenreuth in the 1950’s
Josef Gabriel did his apprenticeship with Alfons Riedel in Bubenreuth. After passing his master’s exam, he opened his Erlangen workshop in 1987. Since then he has won numerous awards and medals including gold medals at the Violin Society of America and Mittenwald competitions.
Emile Dupree bows were made in the Seifert workshops in Bubenreuth primarily for the American market. This is an especially nice example and is gold mounted
From the workshop of Frank Daguin, Lyon.
The Finkel workshop was founded by Siegfried Finkel in the 1950’s. They continue to make exceptional quality bows to this day.
Roger François Lott studied with his father François. His Mirecourt workshop produced high quality bows both under his own name and also for important Parisian makers and dealers such as R.& M. Millant and E.Vatelot.
This exceptional bow was made for Caressa & Français in Paris. The stick is the work of Claude Thomassin and the frog and button is by Jules Fetique. It is fully certified by Raffin.
Nicolas Maline was one of the truly great French bow makers of the 19th century. He was the son and pupil of Guillaume. He then worked for Pajeot alongside Nicolas Maire before opening his own workshop. He supplied bows to J.B. Vuillaume starting in 1840 although he never worked in Paris, and he was actually the first to make bows with the Vuillaume style frog. Vuillaume greatly appreciated his work and many of the bows stamped Vuillaume Paris were actually made by Maline in Mirecourt. The stick of this viola bow is of snakewood.
Charles Bazin was the last member of the great Bazin bow making dynasty. Unlike the previous generation he worked primarily by himself preferring to work with individual clients rather than wholesalers and dealers. This unusually fine gold mounted viola bow is a classic example of his fine work and is facile, strong with a quick response.
After serving his apprenticeship with Cuniot-Hury, François worked in Geneva with Vidoudez before joining Emile F. Ouchard’s workshop. He set up on his own in 1926, retiring in 1960. This bow is accompanied by a Le Canu certificate.
Michael Vann started his career with William Salchow in New York, like a number of today’s best makers. His bows are in the hands of many of today’s top string players. In addition, he has won medals at several major competitions.
The Morizot workshop was founded by Louis Morizot (père) in 1926 and continued on by his six sons. This Morizot viola bow has a strong lively stick producing a great sound.
Emile François Ouchard trained at the Cuniot-Hury workshop and later took it over. He was a highly respected maker in his time and was also the father and teacher of the great Emile August Ouchard.This bow is offered at an exceptional price in that the frog and button are later replacements.
The Finkel workshop began 100 years ago under the direction of Paul Wiedhaas. Their bows branded ERNST have been very popular for their high quality.
Otto Hoyer worked in Paris with Eugene Sartory between 1911 and 1913 and used the “ Otto Hoyer Pariser” stamp on his finest bows as with this exceptional viola bow. Before going to Paris Otto Hoyer worked with his father Ernst August Hoyer. The frog has a “see-through” lens (known as a Stanhope lens) with an image of the maker inside. This viola bow is a superb example of this master’s best work and has excellent playing qualities, quick, responsive and relatively light.