ABOUT
Robert Ames is an American master bowmaker with more than fifty years of experience crafting, restoring, and studying the world’s finest bows. He began his career in the New York City atelier of renowned bowmaker William Salchow, quickly advancing to shop foreman and producing hundreds of bows while mastering the repair and restoration of fine French, English, and German bows.
In 1978, he established Robert Ames Fine Violins & Bows in New Jersey. His work has earned recognition at international competitions, including honors at Hofstra University and in Salt Lake City. He has also handled significant acquisitions for collectors, including the 1720 Mendelssohn Stradivarius—known as the Red Violin—which he purchased at auction for a client in 1990. The $1.76 million sale set a world record at the time for the highest price ever paid at auction for a musical instrument. Robert has built a reputation among musicians, collectors, and fellow experts for exceptional workmanship and expertise in identifying, authenticating, restoring, and evaluating fine bows.
His passion for the craft has led to an unusually broad international career, with operations established at various stages in France, Germany, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan. He has been sought after as a speaker and lecturer at conferences and events around the world, and bows from his collection have been featured in numerous books on fine stringed instruments. Known online as “Bob the Bowmaker,” he now shares his knowledge of bows and bowmaking with a growing audience on TikTok and Instagram.
Today, Robert devotes his work to two lifelong pursuits: creating handcrafted bows from hand-selected premium pernambuco and the finest materials, and offering for sale rare historic bows assembled over more than five decades of collecting. Each bow he makes reflects a lifetime of studying the finest examples of the bowmaker’s art, while every historic bow is selected and restored with an uncompromising commitment to craftsmanship, authenticity, and playability.Robert is currently accepting commissions and offering bows from his distinguished collection, including works by some of the most celebrated bowmakers in history.
To inquire about a bow or schedule an appointment, call 201-914-1971.