INFORMATION ABOUT NURNBERGER BOWS
German family of bowmakers. Christian Gottlob Nürnberger (b Markneukirchen, 31 Dec 1792; d Markneukirchen, 17 Aug 1868), whose father and grandfather were both violin makers, was the first bowmaker of the family, being first recorded as such in 1823. His son, Franz Albert Nürnberger (i) (b 19 Aug 1826; d 26 May 1894) made very high quality bows in an old German style; they are unsigned. Franz Albert (i) and his son, Franz Albert (ii) (b Markneukirchen, 24 April 1854; d Markneukirchen, 15 Feb 1931), were founding members of the Bogenmacherinnung Markneukirchen, where they are recorded as Albert sen. and Albert jun.
Franz Albert (ii) began a very successful business relationship with the Wurlitzer Company, Cincinnati, early in the 20th century. About this time he began to offer a new Tourte-type model, which became the typical ‘Nürnberger bow’. His bows are made of the finest materials and they were as highly regarded as those of his French counterparts. His son, Carl Albert Nürnberger (b Markneukirchen, 28 Oct 1885; d Markneukirchen, 2 March 1971), became his successor. It was Carl Albert, working with his brother Philipp Paul (b 29 Jan 1882; d 6 April 1946), who perfected the ‘Nürnberger bow’. His bows were played by some of the most famous artists of his time, including Fritz Kreisler, Eugène Ysaÿe and David Oistrakh. Carl Albert was succeeded by his son, Karl Albert (b 22 April 1906; d 9 Oct 1972), and grandson, Christian Albert (b 12 Dec 1947).
Expert knowledge is required to distinguish the work of the various members of the family, as the stamp albert nürnberger was used for most of the 20th century.
"There are the good ones made by Albert Nurnberger and then there are lots and lots of mediocre ones made by the workshop after his death.
His really good ones have an asterisk on either side of his name. Sometimes 'superior' was stamped on the opposite side and Saxony stamped on the bottom between the frog and tightening screw button. Superior was his extra nice bows mounted with gold. Usually the stamps are very worn and difficult to make out. especially the 'superior'. Not all the good ones have the superior stamp."
