A German Cello Bow by H.R. Pfretzschner 1910-1920. (BG02) SOLD

A German Cello Bow by H.R. Pfretzschner 1910-1920. (BG02)

This wonderful bow was made by one of the best German bow makers; Hermann Richard Pfretzschner around 1910 /1920 and bears a faded H.R. Pfretzschner stamp on shaft. It weighs 76g, is very well made of fine pernambuco wood and is in very good condition. It is nickel mounted, the frog being a later addition.

This is a musician’s bow; it is strong, responsive and produces a powerful, mature tone.

Hermann Richard Pfretzschner

(c. 1856 - 1921)

Pfretzchner, like many of his contemporaries, was born into a bow making family tradition, his father Carl Richard running a small shop in the Vogtland region. Herman was a gifted craftsmen and musician, talents that came to the notice of the most important European bow maker of the time; J. B. Vuillaume and leading to an apprenticeship at Vuillaume’s shop in Paris.

Pfretzchner returned to his father’s business after Vuillaume’s death and eventually opened his own studio in 1880 where he specialized in the French tradition of bow making with designs influenced by Vuillaume and a prior student of Vuillaume’s; Francois Nicholas Voirin.

In 1901 Pfretzchner was appointed ‘Purveyor to the Royal Saxonian Court’ by the Royal House of Saxony allowing him to proudly feature the royal Saxonian crest on the frogs of his bows. He continued to produce bows based on established master bow maker models, along with developing his own personal design in collaboration with the violinist August Wilhelmj.

Pfretzschner is regarded as one of Germany’s best bow makers.