Franz Albert Nürnberger violin bow, circa 1920

Fifth generation bow maker Franz Albert Nürnberger (1854–1931) is regarded as one of the greatest German makers of the 19th century. He worked in Markneukirchen where he built bows based on those of the acclaimed French maker, François Xavier Tourte. Franz Albert’s model was further refined by his son, Carl Albert (1885–1971), who exported many high-quality bows to the United States, labeling them “Albert Nürnberger.” Nürnberger bows were extremely sought-after and owned by leading players of the 20th century, including Eugène Ysaÿe, Jan Kubelik, Fritz Kreisler, and David Oistrakh.