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This bow is truly well-made of superb material and fully silver mounted, yet remains unstamped and of unknown origin. The Swan-type head (an elongated tip much like a cello bow tip) is uncommon and associated with only a few bow makers of which J. P. Gabriel and the Canadian Michael Vann are two, but its highly unusual for trade bows, therefore it would be wrong to conclude that this bow inevitably is the product of a good trade bow studio. Hence, its authorship remains an open question which may one day find an answer.
It has hardly any wear on it and doesn't seem to be very old - a calculated guess would date it to around the 1970s or even as late as the 1980s.
Besides its good quality silver-mounted fittings, the stick is of unusually attractive pernambuco with a bold vertical flame across the shaft. The tip is elegant and the elongated head quite uncommon.
The playing properties are really good and seductive, producing a rich golden tone with nobility and allowing for good spiccato and general articulation.
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The Stick :
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Round, of unusually attractive high grade pernambuco.
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The Nut :
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Ebony with simple eye. Plain silver adjuster button. Both original to the bow.
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Mountings :
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Solid silver.
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Lapping :
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Silver wire lapping. Black leather thumbpad.
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Tip Slide :
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Silver.
The head is in the elongated 'Swan's head' style.
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Condition :
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Virtually in mint condition, except that a previous owner very slightly worked away some wood from the frog at the point where the thumb contacts the frog chin - probably to facilitate comfort. This is hardly noticible and doesn't detract from the bow.
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Provenance :
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Owned by Johan Grobbelaar
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