As a member of a large family of violin makers, Louis (Isadore) Cabasse studied with his father Charles and with J.B.Vuillaume in Paris. He was especially noted for his cellos.
The Klotz family of violin makers was founded by Matthias (1653-1743) and continued on through the first part of the 20th Century. Aegidius Klotz (1733-1805) is considered one of the best makers of the family. This viola is of large proportions and has a big full sound of excellent quality.
The Bernardel family is one of the most important and esteemed in French violin making. Beginning with Auguste Sebastien Philippe who joined with Nicolas Lupot in 1815, the Bernardels continued on in Paris for over a century. This is a beautiful and classic example this important family’s work.
After a four year apprenticeship in Bern, Otto Schenk came to the U.S. and worked with Hans Weisshaar in Los Angeles for four years and then in New York with Jacques Français four more years before returning to Bern where he set up his own workshop. Over the years he has won numerous awards at major competitions.
Josef Gabriel did his apprenticeship with Alfons Riedel in Bubenreuth. After passing his master’s exam, he opened his Erlangen workshop in 1987. Since then he has won numerous awards and medals including gold medals at the Violin Society of America and Mittenwald competitions.
Emile Dupree bows were made in the Seifert workshops in Bubenreuth primarily for the American market. This is an especially nice example and is gold mounted
From the workshop of Frank Daguin, Lyon.
The Finkel workshop was founded by Siegfried Finkel in the 1950’s. They continue to make exceptional quality bows to this day.
The Otto Dürrschmidt workshop was founded in 1894 and today is headed by Uwe Dürrschmidt and his daughter. Today’s Dürrschmodt bows are made to the same exacting standards as they were over 100 years ago.
Born in 1928, Jean Paul Lauxerrois served his apprenticeship with Marcel Vatelot in Paris and then in Mirecourt from 1947-1950 with François Lotte. He joined André Chardon’s workshop working with Marcel and Etienne Vatelot. He set up his own workshop in Paris in 1959, moving to Bordeaux in 1980. In the 1950’s and ‘60s, Jean Paul was one of the most important figures in the revival of the great tradition of French bow making.
For over fifty years Frank Passa’s San Francisco violin shop was one of the most important on the west coast. In 1978 he brought in Reid Kowallis and Morgan Andersen as bow makers, who had just graduated from the violin making school in Salt Lake City, UT. They made superb bows which were branded F.PASSA SF. Between ’78 and ’82, Reid won several medals at VSA competitions. This is an especially nice example of Reid’s elegant work and is gold mounted.
Vladimir Radosavljevic was for many years a professional violinist in Belgrade. He developed an interest in bow making and repair so he came to the U.S. and trained in the repair of fine bows. In ’98 he moved to Brasil to learn the art of bow making. He was so successful that he had many orders for his bows. He returned to this country working with a number of makers and dealers. Today he splits his time between Savannah and his native Belgrade.
Bows from the H.R.Pfretzschner workshop have always been in demand by musicians all over the world. This bow represents an excellent value for the musician in that the nickel mounted button is a later replacement.
Roger François Lott studied with his father François. His Mirecourt workshop produced high quality bows both under his own name and also for important Parisian makers and dealers such as R.& M. Millant and E.Vatelot.
This exceptional bow was made for Caressa & Français in Paris. The stick is the work of Claude Thomassin and the frog and button is by Jules Fetique. It is fully certified by Raffin.
Nicolas Maline was one of the truly great French bow makers of the 19th century. He was the son and pupil of Guillaume. He then worked for Pajeot alongside Nicolas Maire before opening his own workshop. He supplied bows to J.B. Vuillaume starting in 1840 although he never worked in Paris, and he was actually the first to make bows with the Vuillaume style frog. Vuillaume greatly appreciated his work and many of the bows stamped Vuillaume Paris were actually made by Maline in Mirecourt. The stick of this viola bow is of snakewood.
Originally from Perryville Missouri, Frank Callier moved to St Louis at age 17 where he began studying violin making. After working in San Antonio, TX, he settled in Hollywood in 1928 where he set up his own violin and bow making shop. He was by far the most important bow maker in Los Angeles and won a number of medals and awards for his fine bows.
Tom Dignan started his career working for Bein & Fushi in 1979. He opened his own workshop in Boston in 1983. Since then he has won 17 awards for his bows, including two gold medals from the Violin Society of America. His bows are owned by professional musicians all over the world.
Carlisle made his first violin in 1910 and by 1914 he was associated with Rudolf Wurlitzer in Cincinnati. In the first part of the 20th century, Wurlitzer was one of the largest musical instrument dealers in the world with several locations around the country and were one of the most important violin dealers in the U.S. Carlisle made a number of fine violins for them over many years. This is an especially nice example of his work.