All bows have the signature of the tradition in which they were created, the workshop and the bow maker. A bow is always a personal matter. If you like it even more distinctive, choose a mother-of-pearl inlay on the frog with a personal motif and thus receive a unique piece.

Interview with Daniela Finkel

That is Zeitgeist

Finkel bows can look back on a very long tradition. Are there things that can still be improved?

There are indeed many good reasons to do things the way my father, grandfather and great-grandfather did. Every generation has driven development further, everything works. But I also believe that there are people in the world of music who want to explore new things, and it’s for them that we have created our Zeitgeist collection.

What does Zeitgeist signify?

It’s in the design that I want to add a personal touch to our Zeitgeist bows. Somewhere along the line, we started experimenting with the lens on the frog, putting a Burlesque dancer or a skull there. This is nothing new in itself, since other producers have also placed their logo there. Whatever the choice of motif, which might also be very personal, our Finkel bow now has a very special appearance.

You practically grew up in the workshop, what are your earliest memories about making bows?

I really liked drawing or playing in the workshop while people were working all around. Similar tools are still used today, and one of the things that reminds me most of my grandfather is a small plastic bottle with a red lid. This plastic object was probably a sensation back then. It could be used to dampen the floor with water to prevent too much dust from whirling around.

Your father perfected the workshop. What was it that made him such a good bowmaker?

One thing I always admired about my father was how easily he was able to shape the wood. It was something he really did with incredible instinct. I often have this visualisation in my mind’s eye when I don’t know exactly what to do next.