Violin bows

Baroque bows

Baroquebows | 6001262 A 1

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. 

Baroquebows | Img0152 copy scaled

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.

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.

Baroquebows | DSC9926

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.

Baroquebows | 4 copy

Classical bow as above, in pernambuco. This version weighs 49-52 grams.

Baroquebows | DSC9929

Early Tourte type bow in pernambuco, 52-53 grams.

Baroquebows | DSC9932

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. 

Viennese style

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.

Baroquebows | BAS1006

 

Early Romantic bow, probably Vienna 1800-20 with a snakewood stick. It is longer and a little heavier (54-56 gram than the previous bows. The frog and button are mastodon, the stick is snakewood. A very special bow for playing Mendelssohn and Beethoven.