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NOTE: Illustrations used are generic and do not represent property listed on the Guarneri.net system
The value of a bow is significantly determined by condition. A bow stick with a history of breakage and repair is viewed as liability to players, who cannot risk restorations failing at key moments of a performance. Although some restorations can be quite effective in practice, the value of a repaired bow is not maintained in spite of this. Repaired bows by famous makers will still sell but at significantly lower prices than the unrepaired examples. Of course not all breaks involve the stick in coming two or more parts so it should be emphasised that any evidence of the presence of glue or any suspicious dicolourations on a bow stick or head should be taken seriously.
Bow Heads - where the head itself has snapped in two, along the grain, repairs can take the form of pinning, as illustrated above, or splicing, where a section is removed from both parts and new wood is introduced that 'binds' the two broken pieces together. The top of the head where the shaft and head meet should be closely examined for the presence of strips of 'introduced wood' and also for signs of past gluing, as well as pin heads. The 'inner' face of the throat of the head should also be examined for vertical splits caused by errors in rehairing or horizontal lines, along the grain, possibly indicating a repaired join. The absence of hair, the bow tip extremity or the headplate are not critical factors in lowering the valuation of a bow but the cost of bringing a bow to a usable state may be taken into account when deciding an acceptable price. ( top )
Upper stick - Care should taken to closely examine the 'throat' area in the extreme upper end of the shaft where it points down to the hair, as damage in this area is one of the commonest condition faults for bows. Some primitive upper stick restorations, not currently practised professionally, included binding the upper stick, towards the throat and head, with twine or light gauge wire lapping to support any gluing of the wood beneath. In the past, some musicians used to applaud other performers and conductors, by striking the top of their music stand with this part of the bow. Due to the now quite substantial value of bows this activity is significantly rarer than previously, but the legacy of concussion marks left by those musicians still remains for those bows and consequently value has to be reduced even if undramatically so. ( top )
Some repairs to sticks involve pinning on a similar basis as that of the head but involving , generally, one wooden pin rather than the two nickel or brass ones used in head pinning repairs. Unoriginal lapping on a bow can conceal damage and although removal of lapping, may be inconvenient to a seller, undertakings to rescind a sale, if subsequent removal of the lapping reveals a repair, should be sought by bow purchasers where possible.
The illustration above is intended only as a very basic guide and all bow sticks and heads should be carefully and thoroughly examined for the presence of repairs prior to sale or purchase. Repairs can be extremely well concealed and the use of very good light, even Ultra violet light if possible, is recommended whilst examining bows.
Some makers selected wood for bows that retained inherent flaws such as knots, these do not necessarily have any very deleterious effect on value, although examples by a maker without flaws are, generally, more sought after and therefore incrementally more valuable.
Strong heat is used in the 'springing' process of bow manufacture and restoration and occasionally scorch marks mar the appearance of a stick. Depending on severity, these marks are cosmetic flaws but should be 'factored in' negatively to a valuation. ( TOP )
The above statements and illustrations are made in accordance with our Terms & Conditions and are intended to show basic features and indications and should not be considered absolute, exclusive or exhaustive. Guarneri.net takes no responsibility is taken for omissions or inaccuracies
