John Norwood Lee Violin Bow Chicago

This violin bow was made by John Norwood Lee in Chicago in the late 20th Century. Lee lived and worked in Chicago for much of his early life, working in violin repair shops through the 1970's, and eventually began an apprenticeship in 1977 with the newly established Bein & Fushi repair shop under Ben Webster. It was at this point in time where Lee had his first experience in bow-making and restoring, and he continued to produce bows for a number of different firms across America. He is very experienced as a copyist of fine bows, being familiar with Peccatte, Tourte, and Sartory models, which he works with regularly.

The bow is stamped "JOHN NORWOOD LEE" and weighs 62.7 grams. It has an octagonal stick of pernambuco measuring 74.7cm in length, and has whalebone lapping and a leather grip. The frog is made from ebony and is fully gold mounted with a pearl eye and a three-piece gold button with pearl inlay. It is in good condition.

It has a strong, well-weighted stick with a rich legato and an easy bounce. It provides a good resistance, allowing for a good feeling of contact into the string, and gives a fantastic sense of projection for larger pieces such as concertos, making it a great fit for tertiary students or professional violinists.

Please contact us if you would like to book an appointment to try this wonderful American bow.