Violin bow by W.E. Hill and Sons, London
This violin bow has now sold.
About W.E. Hill and Sons
The English firm W.E. Hill and Sons was almost unchallenged as the world´s premier violin and bow dealership for almost a century, having been set up by William Ebsworth Hill in 1880. The family´s roots in the trade went back even further: William Ebsworth was the fourth generation of Hill violin makers. As accomplished in making as the Hills were, William Ebsworth was also a shrewd business man: in just seven years the Hanwell workshop grew into a major concern, employing a number of talented makers of instruments, bows and cases. Hill´s four sons were among their number.
Over the course of the next 100 years or so, the Hill name continued to grow in importance thanks to the publication of a number of seminal texts on the great makers and the fact that most of the world´s best instruments were being sold through the firm. The Second World War saw a number of Hill instruments being donated to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. This collection included Stradivari´s `Le Messie´, arguably the world´s most famous violin.
Hill bows are known for their consistently high quality. There was a strict hierarchy within the workshop, with new recruits beginning by making chin rests and working their way up. The standards in the workshop were very high: I´ve never played a Hill with an overly weak stick, a testament to the rigorous quality control which took place. In order to identify the maker, Hill bows are stamped on the faceplate, under the hair, with a number or a mark. It is possible to find out the maker of each bow from this stamp. There are a few other clues to be found on the frogs and sticks: letters were used to match bows to frogs after cleaning and numbers were used to identify the year of manufacture.
About the bow
This bow is stamped No.5, meaning it was made by Arthur Barnes. Barnes was active in the Hill workshop between 1920 and 1939 and was raised in the Brighton Institution for Deaf and Dumb Children before starting his apprenticeship with the firm. This bow was made in 1927 and is stamped as such under the frog.
The bow weighs 56.8 grams and the mounts are of silver and ebony. The stick measures 725 mm in length.
How does it play?
This bow produces a big, meaty sound with lots of body. It acts as an extension of the arm in the way that the best bows do, never needing controlled or managed so much as just directed. The very fine quality pernambuco is really reflected in the sound and playability of this bow.
Condition
The bow is in excellent condition with some cosmetic wear and a small chip of ebony missing from the frog. The bow is stamped W.E. Hill and Sons England: the inclusion of the country indicates that the bow was made for export.