Last Bow Maker Warns of Lost Craftsmanship

Rudolf Pilsel, a craftsman with over five decades of experience in making and restoring violins and bows, has voiced serious concerns about the potential demise of his industry. He highlights that international trade bans on threatened wood species, such as Pernambuco, coupled with a severe lack of new apprentices, are jeopardizing the future of this highly specialized craft.

Pilsel, who has supplied instruments to renowned musicians and orchestras, including the Liverpool Philamonic, notes that obtaining materials like ivory, tortoise shell, and whale bone has also become impossible due to bans. He emphasizes that bow-making requires extreme precision, working to fractions of a millimeter, a skill few are now learning.

Despite these challenges, Pilsel continues his work from his home in Crewe, Cheshire, cherishing the privilege of creating instruments that have graced prestigious venues. He considers himself one of the last independent traders capable of both making and restoring these delicate musical tools, a testament to a dying art form.