The violin bow is often made from of Pernambuco wood from Brazil and the bow is strung with horse hair. About 150 to 200 hairs from the tail of a horse are used by a bow maker to make a violin bow.
The bow consists of a specially shaped stick with other materials. The Pernambuco wood has become an endangered species of wood so makers of bow are currently adopting new material like the Tabebuia wood and carbon fibre. Tortoiseshell and ivory are also used to decorate the bow. The tip of the bow is usually made of bone, metal or ivory.
A bow is composed of a specially shaped stick with other material forming a ribbon stretched between it ends, which is used to stroke the string and create sound. The manufacture of bows is considered a demanding craft, and well-made bows command high prices. Part of the bow maker's skill is the ability to chose high-quality material for the stick. Historically, Western bows are made of Pernambuco wood from Brazil.
However, Pernambuco is now an endangered species. Makers are currently using other materials such as carbon fiber composite and fiberglass. Carbon fiber bows have become very popular, and some of the better carbon fiber bows are now comparable to beautiful Pernambuco sticks. Materials such as ivory, tortoiseshell, and mother of pearl are often used to make the bow appear decorative. The most elegant and most sophisticated bows are mounted with gold.
