John Dodd [1752-1839] was a London based bow maker. He was known for his fine bows although many have the fault of being a fraction too short.

Dodd cut his bows to the required sweep from a block of wood using a specially constructed saw rather than the usual practice of cutting straight and applying heat to bend the fibres. He would not take pupils and had no desire to pass on his methods. In fact, although often short of money, he once refused a bribe of 1,000 pounds to reveal his methods.

This description of John Dodd is given in the Universal dictionary of violin and bow makers.

" Of small stature-rather waddled than walked. Negligent in dress, wearing a worn out coat of the most dilapidated description, short corduroy trousers and broad brimmed hat. Quaint personality-a regular frequenter of the public house for his favourite tipple "pearl". Walked home many times with his pockets full of oyster shells begged from various stalls and from these he cut the out the pearl for the slides and ornamentations of his bows ....Often at a loss for silver for his mountings he was frequently berated by his old housekeeper for using up her metal spoons."

Ref: Henley, William, 1973, Universal dictionary of violin and bow makers, Amati Publishing, Brighton, Eng

Violin bow, wood / ivory/ horse hair made by John Dodd, London, England, 1770-1790.

Pernambuco stick with head of late transitional "Cramer" style. Ivory frog and button, green thread lapping, eyelet of brass and screw of iron. White horse hair for bow hair.

Made: Dodd, John; London, England; 1770 - 1790

: Dodd, John; London, England

Stamped above frog and on frog, "DODD"

88/1165

1770 - 1790

27 mm

10 mm

720 mm