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As instrument builders, the Penzel family reaches back into the mid-19th century. Although some members of this family worked successfully as violinmakers, it is in the domain of bowmaking that they have left their mark, particularly through the work of Emil Max Penzel, who was a student of H. R. Pfretzschner. Today the name Penzel is firmly established in the German bowmaking traditions as leading producers of fine bows.
Kurt Gerhard Penzel was born in 1929 in Gopplasgrün. From 1943 to 1946 he studied bowmaking with Emil Max Penzel in Erlbach and worked for him until 1948. From 1951 onwards he worked independently. In 1956 he did his master bowmaker's examination in Stuttgart, whereafter he settled in Ostrach. We worked both as maker and as expert repairer of bows. In 1969 he won a Gold Medal at Liège for a quartette of bows. Today he seems to have become the leading spirit in this field after E M Penzel's death in 1953 and to be carrying forward the family tradition. His bows are increasingly appearing in catalogues the world over and are appreciated by all who use them.
This bow bears a 3-star rating which is the highest Penzel gave to his bows. Apart from being stamped in the usual place, it also bears the maker's crest in the flank of the frog. It is made of excellent dark red-brown pernambuco cut into an octagonal stick. The silver-mounted ebony nut has a simple eye mother-of-pearl eye. The angular leading corner of the tip is characteristic of K G Penzel's work.
This is an excellent bow in excellent condition and with superb playing properties. It's main characteristic is its firmness and good balance.
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The Stick :
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Pernambuco cut to octagonal
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The Nut :
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Ebony with simple eye. Button of silver and ebony
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Lapping :
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Silver lapping. Black leather thumbpad.
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Condition :
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Excellent condition
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Provenance :
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Present ownership withheld. Formerly the property of Timothy Crake
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