The Maker:

Andrew Dipper is a skilled restorer, luthier, historian, and writer with a background in sculpture and Cremonese violinmaking. He has made replicas of historic bows for 35 years. Mr. Dipper’s work is informed by dedicated scholarship, study of original bows and museum conservation.  Examples of his restoration, conservation, and reproduction work can be found in many of the foremost public and private musical instrument collections, as well as in the hands of acclaimed players worldwide.

Model:

This rather rare bow originates from the time when the famous St Cecelia’s Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland, hosted some of the great musicians of the 18th century, including Haydn, Giuseppe Puppo and the Rainagles. It is a close copy of the snakewood bow with walrus ivory frog and button illustrated in Joseph Roda’s book on the violin bow on p. 49. In the book, this bow was designated as Scottish, circa 1800; however current research on transitional bows does not agree with this date of manufacture. A more plausible time of use would be circa 1780 which is suggested by the width of the hair ribbon and the frog and button design that follows the Pre-Revolutionary French models of Pierre Tourte. Interestingly, the fully round stick of the original follows the Italian tradition. Dipper’s Roda models are made in snakewood with a snakewood frog and bone button and follow the general model of the original with some slight modifications to improve stability of the mounting of the frog.

 

Materials:

Stick: Snakewood

Frog: Snakewood

 

Certificate:

Andrew Dipper

 

Specs:

Weight: 55.3 g

Length: 70.5 cm