À propos

Coen en altgamba1 — Coen Engelhard and alto viol

Renaissance Viol bows made by Coen Engelhard

“I started making renaissance viol bows when I got my first renaissance viol, a beautiful alto viol made by Pierre Thouvenot. He suggested trying Acacia wood, which I did and it turned out to be so gorgeous for bow making that I never found a better option and even play the other viols and the cello with these bows.

The wood comes from the forest where I live, at the feet of the French Pyrenees. Its Latin name is Robinia pseudoacacia. It is very resistant and has a direct sound, with the black hair it gives the bow a nice ‘bite’.

25 years of viol playing and teaching at the ‘Conservatoire de Toulouse’ from 1996 to 2015 help me test every bow extensively.”