Carl Heinrich Knopf: Fine viola bow, circa 1870

This viola bow by Carl Heinrich Knopf comes from the late work of the best German bow maker of his time – a collector's item and viola bow for the highest musical demands.

Viola bow by Carl Heinrich Knopf, before 1875: a rarity with excellent playing and sound qualities, made from materials rarely found in this quality.

Carl Heinrich Knopf (1839–1875) was the representative of the famous Saxon bow-making dynasty whose name is most closely associated with the most successful period of the family workshop in Markneukirchen. A student of Ludwig Bausch, Knopf established Knopf bows on the international market and moved to Berlin himself in 1868, with a stopover in Dresden. It was here that this viola bow was created, a work of consummate craftsmanship: the relatively small head is based on the Voirin model, while the octagonal stick, made of the finest dark brown pernambuco, is rather sturdy, but with its center of gravity in the upper third, it plays exceptionally smoothly and produces a clear, powerful sound. The three-piece tailpiece and the ebony frog with real silver and a mother-of-pearl eye articulate both Carl Heinrich Knopf's fine sense of style and his deep knowledge of the technical demands that his work had to meet and still meets in the hands of excellent musicians.

Viola bow by Carl Heinrich Knopf, before 1875 – brief portrait

• Authentic viola bow from the late work of Carl Heinrich Knopf
• Noble pernambuco of a rare dark brown color
• High-quality genuine silver fittings and ebony frog with mother-of-pearl eye
• Rather strong viola bow with exceptionally smooth playing characteristics, for high demands
• Includes Corilon certificate 

We deliver this viola bow ready to play after a thorough inspection in our workshop, worldwide shipping free of charge, with a 30-day return policy and under the Corilon trade-in guarantee.

Important Notice for International Buyers:
Antiques over 100 years old are exempt from customs duties. No customs fees apply for shipments to the USA and all other countries.