A Violin Bow by Nikolai Kittel

History of the Instrument

One of the more enigmatic figures in the history of violin and bow making is Nikolai (Nicolaus) Kittel, an Austrian by descent who was born in St. Petersburg around 1805 and died in 1868. Until recently, there was virtually no formal account of his life, even though his bows have been highly regarded for over a century. It is believed that he employed several assistants in his shop, including Friedrich Hermann and Heinrich Knopf, whose craftsmanship is evident in many bows bearing the Kittel brand. Both Kittel's and Knopf's bows exhibit a distinctive and consistent interpretation of the Tourte model, with few German characteristics. However, noticeable differences in their workmanship exist. Kittel's bows feature more rounded heads and rougher chamfers, while Knopf's bows have squarer heads and smoothly filed chamfers. The sticks from both makers are crafted from beautiful wood, well-planed, and display very centered cambering, with nearly all frogs showcasing Parisian eyes.

This rare and magnificent bow shows the collaborative efforts of Heinrich Knopf and Nikolai Kittel, of which this bow is an exceptional example.