William Charles Retford

Bow maker
(1875 – 1970)

William Charles Retford (1875–1970) was one of the most important English bow makers of the 20th century and the dominant craftsman behind the characteristic bows of W. E. Hill & Sons. Born in New Milton, Hampshire, he joined Hills in 1892, initially as an instrument repairer, and soon transferred to bow making under Alfred Hill ...Read More and Sydney Yeoman. He became head of the bow-making department in 1907 and remained with the firm until his retirement in 1956.

Working closely with Alfred Hill, Retford helped define the mature “Hill bow,” combining elements of the English tradition of Dodd and Tubbs with the refined French models that passed continually through the Hill workshops. His workmanship was exceptionally precise, and his influence extended across several generations of Hill bow makers. He is also credited with introducing the distinctive fleur-de-lys decoration used on the firm’s finest gold- and tortoiseshell-mounted bows. Bows made by him for Hills are generally identified by a single dot beneath the mortise.

After retiring from Hills, Retford continued making bows privately, usually stamped WILLIAM C. RETFORD, and remained active until the late 1960s. His later bows are often somewhat stronger and heavier than the classic Hill model but retain his characteristic control and finish. In 1964 he published *Bows and Bow Makers*, an influential account of English bow making and its traditions. Retford’s long tenure at Hills and the large number of important craftsmen trained under his direction made him one of the central figures in modern English bow making. Read Less

Price History

- The auction record for this maker is $8,228 in Nov 1990, for a violin bow.
- 29 auction price results.

View all auction prices for William Charles Retford

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