A gold-mounted Hill stick with more power and depth than most, 56.2 grams
W.E. Hill & Sons enjoyed unrivalled success and respect throughout the twentieth century as violin and bow makers, restorers and experts, and bow making was one of their most significant contributions to English lutherie. Their Hanwell workshops employed master craftsmen such as Samuel Allen, William Retford and Arthur Bultitude.
Hill bows, made with the finest materials and craftsmanship, were modelled after the best examples by Tourte and Dodd. They used aged pernambuco, naturally seasoned for ten years, and their bows feature fine heads, meticulously finished details and high-quality screws made from case-hardened steel. Known for their elasticity, strength and perfect balance, their Dodd-modelled bows are especially prized, and gold-mounted sticks with a fleur-de-lys command high prices.
This gold-mounted example does justice to the importance of their name. It produces a refined and elegant sound, bringing out the very best the instrument has to offer. Its tone is warm and round. Not as soft as some of the very flexible Hill bows, this gives it a bit more power and depth, making it a very attractive option for a player looking for such a bow.
Documentation available to qualified buyers.
W.E. Hill & Sons, the London firm of William Ebsworth Hill, took its present name in 1880. From Wardour Street it moved to 38 New Bond Street in 1887 and to 140 New Bond Street in 1895, and became the pre-eminent English firm of makers, restorers and experts of the twentieth century. The violin department included Mirecourt-trained staff such as Leon Delunet, J. M. Somny and three generations of the Langonet family, and the Hill Brothers' books on Stradivari and the Guarneri family remain standard references. The business moved to Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, in the 1970s and was dissolved in 1992.
Gold-Mounted Violin Bow by W.E. Hill & Sons, London c.1910 to 1920
£10,000 to £15,000
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