Fine German violin bow (gold/tortoiseshell), probably August Riechers Berlin

German master violin bow with Riechers stamp. Very well balanced, centered with a slight tendency toward the lower half; warm, large, and voluminous sound, highly precise and with a bright character.

August Riechers (1836–1893) was one of the most important German violin makers of his time. Several generations of outstanding masters emerged from his Berlin workshop, which was described by Lütgendorff as a “university for young violin makers.” Less well known is that he also enjoyed an excellent reputation as a bow maker, as exemplified by the master bow with Riechers stamp offered here.

Built around 1880, most likely by August Riechers himself, this violin bow with its medium-thick, octagonal stick demonstrates the skilled and experienced hand of its maker, who knew how to sensitively capture the natural qualities of the wood and translate them into an active bow with excellent playing and tonal qualities. Its central balance and center of gravity, which only minimally tends toward the lower half, but above all its voluminous, large sound with a warm and bright character that unfolds with extreme precision, represent a first-class masterpiece that deserves both the stamp of August Riechers and the high-quality tortoiseshell frog with gold mounts, which was added at a later date, probably by a French master. Tested by our experts, we offer this rare August Riechers violin bow in excellent, ready-to-play condition with free worldwide shipping.

German master violin bow – tortoiseshell/gold, around 1880, with Riechers stamp: brief portrait

• German master bow with Riechers stamp
• Probably by August Riechers himself
• High-quality gold-mounted tortoiseshell frog, added later, probably French
• Fine masterwork with excellent balance
• Warm, bright sound with volume and precision