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The prevalence and popularity in South Africa of the work of the important English bowmaker, John W. Stagg (b. 1949), is due to the systematic imports of his bows into this country by the violinmaker, Timothy Crake, who, prior to emigrating to New Zealand, had a violinmaking and repair studio in Johannesburg. Crake regularly imported a quartet of bows from Stagg and most of the Staggs being used in South Africa is from that undertaking.
John Stagg lives and works in Bristol, England. He joined the firm of W. E .Hill & Sons in1977 where he rose to the position of Senior Bowmaker. In 1983 he left Hill to work for himself. He has been based in Bristol since 1989. He is recognized as one of the world's foremost bowmakers.
A characteristic of all the Stagg bows that I owned and handled is that the frog is without underslide and set directly into a rebate in the stick - wood on wood. This practice results in a very firm fit of the frog, preventing it from sideward rolling on the stick. This same technique, which has French roots, is also used by John Clutterbuck and other important Hill bowmakers.
This particular cello bow was for several years the principal bow of one of South Africa's foremost international concert cellists, Anzél Gerber, who has used it for all her extensive concert tours, concerto performances, recordings and recitals. Dr Gerber recently acquired a very rare and excellent cello bow by Albert Leeson (1904 - 1946), a member of Hill's 'Gold Squad', which suits her Italian cello better. I then bought this Stagg directly from her.
This bow's frog was replaced by John Stagg himself after the original frog got damaged during a botched rehairing. Despite being used extensively, this bow is in excellent condition.
It is a superb bow.
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The Stick :
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Pernambuco, octagonal
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Lapping :
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Silver lapping. Black leather thumbpad.
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Condition :
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Excellent. The frog has some wear to the chin due to much use, but is structurally sound and should provide good service for many decades.
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Provenance :
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For several years this was the principal bow of Dr Anzél Gerber who is a foremost international concert cellist. It is now thte property of Johan Grobbelaar
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