A Gold and Tortoise Hill Bow by John Clutterbuck, Late 1960’s
One of the last bow makers to grace the achetier workshop of the famed English firm, Hill & Sons, John Clutterbuck (b. 1949) began his apprenticeship there in 1964 and remained at the firm until 1971. This fine pernambuco bow features a tortoise shell frog, with gold mounts and a whalebone lapping, stamped, “14” to the faceplate and under slide of the frog and “A” to the bottom facet of the stick above the mortise and the unde slide of the frog, before the “14.” The adjuster, in three pieces, with facets of pearl. Strong yet sprightly and nimble through the gamut of articulation, pulling a clear but broad tonal palette, and with a final balanced weight of exactly 64 grams. An item fit for both discerning professionals and experienced collectors alike.