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Yes - this is a fairly typical example of H.R. Pfretchner's
bass bows. The stick is quite long and the head is refined, elegant
and quite-petite in style and form.
Hermann Richard Pfretchner was born in Markneukirchen
in 1857 and died in 1921. He is the most well recognised member
of the Pfretchner family. His bows are highly regarded by both
players and dealers alike for their fine workmanship and for their
exceptional playing qualities
In 1901 Pfretchner received an appointment - "Königlich
Sächsicher Hoflieferant" - from the King of Saxony. To
mark this honour - bows made after this date were stamped with
the Royal Coat of Arms.
As 1901 was the year of the Royal Appointment and
1921 was the year that Pfretchner died - the bow must date from
between those two dates.
If we said around about 1910 - then I don't
think we would be too far out. The quality of the wood and a lighter,
more delicate style of making suggest earlier rather than later.
H.R Pfretchner learnt bow making from his father
Carl Richard Pfretchner (1832 - 1893). It was however - J.B. Vuillaume
(1798-1875) who was the major influence on his making.
In 1874 Pfretchner left Markneukirchen and went
to study and work for J.B. Vuillaume in Paris for one year. In
1880 Pfretchner opened his own shop in Markneukirchen and made
bows using the French working techniques that he had learnt with
Vuillaume.
Yes. Pfretchner's newly learnt skills - did indeed
influence the whole direction of German bow making. His shop was
an important and highly influential establishment and the workshop
employed and helped train some highly skilled and talented makers.
Yes - here are a few of the more well recognised;
i) His sons Richard Herman Pfretchner (1876-1958)
and Berthold Walter Pfretchner (1889- 1984).
ii) Emil Max Penzel
(1887-1953) worked for a few years from 1903 until about 1906.
iii) Fritz Gütter
Senior (1890-1960) learned bow making between 1904 and 1908.
iv) Paul Richard Heberlein (1882-1969) learned between 1896 and
1899. After his apprenticeship he remained at the Pfretchner
shop until 1907.
v) Friedrich Fritz Meinel (1885-1962) is recorded
as being an apprentice.
vi) Richard Bässler (1891-1982)
learned the craft of bow making in the H.R. Pfretchner workshop.
Yes - the quality of the stick is superb. It is
made from a long-grain chestnut-brown pernambuco - that although
on the lighter side of making is strong and flexible to perfection.
As for the facets of the octagon - they are beautifully symmetrical
and graduate evenly towards the head.
To gain the optimum balance in a bow of this length
it is simply no use whatsoever in having a large heavy head. In
this respect Pfretchner really is the style master. The perfectly
proportioned compact head that we see here is nothing less than
an inspired conception. Its execution - elegant and flowing.
Yes indeed. There is little doubt amongst players
of German style bows that if you're lucky enough to find one by
the old H.R Pfretchner the bow making and the playing qualities
of the bow are as good as it gets. There is something magical about
this bow. It has to be a combination of the feel in the hand,
the superb balance, the weight and the way in which the bow articulates
and produces sound with consummate ease.
The main reference work that we consulted was "Deutsche Bogenmacher
- German Bow Makers 1783-1945" (Volume 1) by Klaus Grünke,
C. Hans-Karl Schmidt and Wolfgang Zunterer. Published in 2000
by Walter Lachenmann, Waakirchen. ISBN 3-00-005839-7
Strong, elegant, refined, flexible, articulate from
the hand of H. R Pfretchner - a "Master" - a "Royal" bow
maker. This bow is sure to put a smile on the most demanding
of pro-players.
Length of Stick : 721 mm
Weight : 137 gm
Stick Profile: Octagonal
Mounts : Silver
Colour
of Hair : White
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