Violin bows
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Baroque
Close copy of an early Baroque bow from c.1685, probably Italian, with a clip-in frog. Convex snakewood stick with a low tip.
Weight: approx 48 grams.
My idea of a late Baroque ‘sonata’ bow. I would date it around 1740. The stick, frog and button are snakewood: approx 50-54 grams.
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The transitional period of bow making
The Cramer bow, the most renowned transitional model, originated in Germany and was first used by the Mannheim Orchestra. Violinist Wilhelm Cramer is believed to have introduced it to Paris around 1770, helping to popularize its design. Compared to baroque bows, the Cramer model featured a stronger, heavier, and taller head, enhancing its playing capabilities.
I am proud to present this copy of a Betts bow, which I recently made at the request of several players. The original is the property of Mrs. Müllejans of the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. The stick is made of pernambuco, with the frog and button in bone (Bos taurus).
Classical “Cramer” bow, Germany c.1770. The stick is ironwood, the frog and button mastodon. It weighs 53-54 grams. A great bow for Mozart and Haydn.
A Cramer bow as above, in pernambuco. This version weighs 49-52 grams.
Early Tourte type bow in pernambuco, 52-53 grams.
Classical French bow, “Cramer” type. The original is by an unknown maker, I would date it after 1770. The original stick and the copy are bloodwood with mastodon frog and button: 50-52 grams.
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Viennese style around 1800
Viennese style bows remained in use throughout the early 19th century, particularly among musicians resistant to the French revolutionary standards and the aesthetics of the Viotti school. While Woldemar observed that the Cramer bow quickly fell out of fashion -likely true for Paris- this does not appear to have been the case for early 19th-century German examples.
A bow for Beethoven.
Early Romantic bow, probably Vienna 1800-20 with a snakewood stick. It is longer and a little heavier (54-56 gram than the bows above. The frog and button are mastodon, the stick snakewood. A very special bow for playing Beethoven & Mendelssohn..