A Silver Mounted German Bow By Leopold Pfretzschner, Circa 1930’s.

Though the Pfretszchner family is regaled as one of the most prolific and internationally respected dynasties of achetiers and instrument makers spanning centuries and several generations, little is known about Leopold Pfretszchner, save for an entry in Henley’s Dictionary of bows and bowmakers, stipulating that Leopold established his own workshop in Markneukirchen in 1926 and crafted “artist bows of superior construction.” A fine tool, featuring choice pernambuco and an octagonal shaft, silver mounted, finished in whalebone and sheepskin leather, with an ivory tip and an ideal balanced weight of 60.3 grams. The strong, stiff stick yields an immediate and full connection to the string, with crisp articulation and balanced response throughout.