POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Double bass bow made by Archibald Hill

Double bass bow made by Archibald Hill

Object No. 2009/3/5

The Powerhouse Museum's collection of Australian made violins and other bowed string instruments is without parallel. It features some of Australia's earliest and leading makers from the 1850s to the present day such as John Devereux, William Dow, AW Heaps, AE Smith, William Dolphin, Guy Aubrey Griffin and Harry Vatiliotis. Although many have followed established European traditions some makers have also adapted to the local environment by incorporating the use of local timbers or other design features in their work. Bow makers have also been a significant part of musical instrument making in Australia and some have also experimented with the use of local timbers or have achieved leading reputations for the quality of their work. Archibald Hill was another maker of bows who began in Australia before going to the USA to successfully establish a career there as a bow maker. This bow represents some of his early work done in Australia whilst in the Victorian town of Ballarat. It is made of pine rather than more commonly used bow woods such as pernumbuco. Born in 1882 he later lived in Seattle, Washington and died in 1969. Although known to have also made violins in the USA it is unknown if he made any instruments when living in Australia. The Powerhouse Museum's bow collection includes a range of bows made in both Australia and Europe. The majority are violin bows but there are also examples pertaining to the viola, cello and double bass. The collection features bows covering a range of makers and styles and spans over 300 years of bow development. There are several which are of great significance including one of the earliest clip-in frog bows in a public collection which is thought to date from the second half of the seventeenth century and several bows made by members of the Dodd family. Michael Lea Curator, music & musical instruments December, 2008

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Summary

Object Statement

Double bass bow, wood / metal / ebony, made by Archibald Hill, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, probably 1905-1915

Physical Description

Double bass bow with wooden stick, possibly made from pine, which has a modern head. The bow has an ebony frog which is designed to hold a decorative eye and a rectangular slide, both of which are missing. At the very end of the bow is a metal button which is shaped like the end of violin tuning peg. The bow is not fitted with hair.

DIMENSIONS

Height

50 mm

Depth

22 mm

PRODUCTION

Notes

Made by Archibald Hill in Ballarat, Victoria probably between 1905-1915.

HISTORY

Notes

Archibald Hill is known to have made several bows and instruments in Australia without formal training during the early part of the twentieth century. He later travelled to the USA and received formal training there, embarking on a successful career as a maker. Hill made this bow for Hector Jones of Ballarat. The bow was collected by the donor.

SOURCE

Credit Line

Gift of Lennox Holt, 2009

Acquisition Date

14 January 2009

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