I’m taking a small departure from my interior design interviews and briefly exploring design of a different sort.  A little diversity will serve us well so we’re going to delve into the craft of constructing musical instruments.  In many cases instruments were designed hundreds of years ago and the engineering has remained largely the same.  The materials often evolve but the designs are fundamentally unchanged.

The art of making wooden bows used for violins and violas has changed little since its French modern origins in the 19^th century.   Mount Airy Violins & Bows follows these same traditions and applies the finest materials in their construction.   I was shocked to learn that the frog, which is located at the handle end of the bow, possesses 45 different parts!  And the materials that form each of these parts are as varied as the countries from where they originate.  I know, I know, importing parts from all over the world contradicts our mantra a bit, but keep reading because Elizabeth Vander Veer Shaak is playing a part in ecological conservation!

Pernambuco is an endangered and regulated wood that has historically been used for premium bows.  Elizabeth sources her wood from old wood collections within the US and also contributes to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which funds Brazilian pernambuco farmers.  IUCN efforts may not regenerate enough pernambuco trees to loosen trade regulations in the near future, but hopefully it will pay off for future virtuosos. 

So keep an eye out for beautiful wooden bows while you’re shopping for furniture bargains at flea markets.  Maybe you’ll stumble upon an exceptional Elizabeth Vander Veer Shaak bow…nah, not very likely. 

Mount Airy Violins & Bows
Elizabeth Vander Veer Shaak, Proprietor
6665 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19119

http://www.violinsandbows.us/

KO Angotti is a Philadelphia interior design and energy audit company that patronizes local craftspeople whenever possible.