Georges Frédéric Schwartz

Georges-Frédéric Schwartz (1785–1849) was an important French bow maker active in Strasbourg during the first half of the 19th century. Born there on 7 April 1785, he was the elder son and pupil of the violin maker Bernard Schwartz. Following his father’s death in 1822, he entered into partnership with his younger brother Théophile-Guillaume under the name Frères Schwartz. While Théophile ...Read More concentrated principally on violin making, Georges-Frédéric specialized in bows.

His work was strongly influenced by the Parisian school, and particularly by François-Xavier Tourte. The best examples show refined heads, carefully finished frogs and mounts, and strong, well-proportioned pernambuco sticks. Silver, gold and tortoiseshell mountings are known. His bows are commonly branded SCHWARTZ on one side of the stick and STRASBOURG on the other, or with a similar brand near the frog.

Schwartz gained a considerable reputation during his lifetime, and his bows remain the most highly regarded work of the family. The Frères Schwartz workshop also produced violins and cellos, although these were principally the responsibility of Théophile-Guillaume. Contemporary and later sources consistently distinguish Georges-Frédéric as the bow specialist of the partnership.

He died in Strasbourg on 29 December 1849. After his death, the family workshop continued under Théophile-Guillaume, who also continued to use the Schwartz name on bows. Georges-Frédéric’s finest work, however, stands apart for its distinctly French character and places him among the notable provincial French bow makers of the generation immediately following Tourte. Read Less

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