The Nürnberger family worked in close concert with each other to fashion some of the finest bows in Germany. They maintained a high level of artistry over the course of their prolific oeuvre, frequently working on Tourte model bows. With luthiers in the family dating back to the early 18th century, the Nürnbergers flourished as bow makers beginning in the late 19th century, and are now widely recognized as the standard bearers of German bow making.
In 1890, Albert Nürnberger Jr. (b. 1854-d.1933) started branding the workshop's bows in order to make a name for the family. The workshop had already been producing fine bows for several decades, but had usually supplied bows to other shops anonymously. By signing their works, the family built up their business and established their reputation. The earliest stamp, in a font sans serif, was later changed to a font with serifs in 1910 before ultimately settling on the most widely used stamp, *ALBERT NÜRNBERGER*, in 1920.
With the stamp in use, the family expanded the business, winning a gold prize in Berlin, 1906, and silver prize in Leipzig, 1910. Their remarkable ability to quickly produce fine bows is due in part to the assistance of Nürnberger Jr.'s sons, Phillip Paul Nürnberger (b. 1882-d. 1946), and the renowned Carl Albert Nürnberger (b. 1885-d.1971), who worked with their meticulous father. They also trained some of Germany's best bow makers, including August Rao. With several excellent bowmakers working together, they were able to supply such demanding dealers as Hammig and Weichold, as well as the thriving market in the United States. After Carl Albert Nürnberger took over the shop, many of the world's greatest concert artists, including David Oistrakh, owned and regularly performed on a Nürnberger.
We currently have several examples from the Nürnberger family, dating back to 1910. These classic examples have all the features that made their bows so popular for much of the 20th century; the workmanship is near perfect, the balance superb and the tone rich. These bows are ideal for musicians of any level, and collectors who appreciate the highest level of German bow making.