Violin bow

Date1800-1850 ca.

Place MadeMarkneukirchen, Upper Saxony, Germany, Europe

Serial No.none

Signedillegible stamp on handle on side away from player [possibly BAUSCH]
Markingsnone
DescriptionStick: round; red-stained dark brown tropical hardwood with visible ray flecks and open pores; uneven faceting at handle; visible tool marks on back of head
Head: nose re-shaped with knife; founded front edge; minimal chamfers on back
Handle: no nipple; grooves each edge of underside with rectangular area left at center to guide frog; 3.9 mm and 4.4 mm pieces of filler wood with holes drilled through center, added to each end of mortise (eyelet is striped)
The origin of this bow is unknown. Features that warrant further research include the materials, the peculiar reddish staining of the stick, and the grooves on the stick to guide the frog. The hank of hair and hair plug removed from this bow are early.
See NMM 10,557, a violin bow with similar grooves on the handle to guide the frog, now missing.

Frog: open; pearwood (microscopically identified by John Koster, 1/2/04); fitted for later ferrule, now missing; no heel-plate, lining, or eyes; rectangular groove to fit underside of handle; brass eyelet
Adjuster: cylindrical bone with small groove near inside edge; rolled steel screw
Tip plate: bone; does not extend up nose (cut away)
Wrapping: none
DimensionsStick length: 708 mm
Head height: 21.1 mm
Head width (bottom): 9.6 mm
Stick width near tip: 4.6 mm (top to bottom); 5.2 mm (side to side)
Stick width near middle: 8.3 mm (top to bottom); 8.4 mm (side to side)
Stick width at end of handle: 9.0 mm (top to bottom); 8.8 mm (side to side)
Frog height: 19.5 mm (front); 19.3 mm (back)
Frog length (top): 41.0 mm
Frog length (bottom): 44.9 mm
Frog width (top): 8.6 mm (front); 8.8 mm (back)
Frog width (bottom): 10.8 mm (front); 11.2 mm (back)
Weight (without hair): 40.1 grams

Credit LineArne B. Larson Estate

Object number10550

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