Hermann Wilhelm Prell (1875–1925) was a skillful

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

bow maker A bow maker is a person who builds, repairs, and restores ancient or modern bows for bowed string instruments. These include violins, violas, cellos, double basses, viola d'amore, viola da gamba, etc. The French word for bowmaker (bow maker) is ...

. He was born on July 29, 1875, in Bad Brambach, Germany. Hermann Wilhelm spent his formative years as a pupil of Heinrich Hoyer. In the early years afterwards he worked for Albert Nurnberger (1893–1895) and August Rau (1896). The following year (1897) he went to Paris to learn from

Eugène Sartory Eugène Nicolas Sartory (1871, Mirecourt – 1946) was an influential French archetier/ bow maker from Mirecourt, France. After having first apprenticed with his father, he went on to work in Paris for Charles Peccatte and Joseph Alfred Lamy (pèr ...

. He established himself independently in Markneukirchen upon his return in 1898 where he lived and worked until his death on 4 April 1925. Prell went on to become an internationally renowned bow maker.

Quotes

Sartory left an indelible mark on the young Hermann Wilhelm, as can be seen in the bows of his manufacture (the heads as well as the frog design etc.)
Gennady Filimonov
"Prell's bows were highly regarded by many of the top players of his time (circa 1920's), as was advertised in "The Music Trade Review. (NYC-September 23, 1922) "Beauty of design and perfect balance gives to these bows a super eminent value." - W. Henley

References

* Die Geigen und Lautenmacher - by Lutgendorff, Frankfurt 1922 *Encyclopedia of the Violin - Alberto Bachmann * * * *Deutsche Bogenmacher-German Bow Makers Klaus Grunke, Hans Karl Schmidt, Wolfgang Zunterer 2000 {{DEFAULTSORT:Prell, Hermann Wilhelm 1875 births 1925 deaths Bow makers German luthiers People from Markneukirchen