Amati > Makers Archive > R > August Rau

August Rau

1866–1951

Bow maker. One of the best makers of the German school. Worked for W. Knopf and A. R. Weichold in Dresden. Established at Markneukirchen 1890-1939. Elegant head with best pernambuco sticks. — John Dilworth

Made Cello Bow, Viola Bow, Violin Bow

Auction Price History

Highest auction price

£2,465

73 results

Type Details Auction house Sold Price
Violin BowSilver mounted, round stick stamped Aug Rau, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver button Lot 147GardinerJanuary 2025£2,013est. £ 1,200-1,800
Silver mounted, signed, minor stick and head blemishes, otherwise very good condition Lot 546November 2022£2,035est. € 1.000-1.500
Silver mounted, signed August Rau, silver lapping, handle crack, otherwise good condition Lot 578June 2022£2,390est. € 1.000-1.200
Silver mounted, ebony frog Lot 190November 2021£1,269est. CHF 200-300
Silver mounted, stick signed, ebony frog, silk lapping, very good condition Lot 52April 2021£886est. € 300-400
Silver mounted, signed, unhaired and unlapping, frog blemish, minor handle wear, good condition Lot 2080September 2020£882
Silver mounted, frog and button by C.A. Bazin, minor stick and head blemishes, minor handle wear Lot 839September 2020£1,542
Violin BowNickel mounted, octagonal stick stamped A. Rau** Lot 232Brompton'sJanuary 2020£408est. £ 300-400
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver and ebony button Lot 48October 2019£1,800est. £ 1,000-1,500
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug. Rau Lot 43June 2019£720est. £ 400-600
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug. Rau Lot 75November 2018£685est. $ 500-800
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug. Rau & Sohn, ebony frog plain, silver button Lot 174October 2018£576est. £ 350-450
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, ebony frog with Paris eye, silver button Lot 91October 2018£2,400est. £ 1,000-1,500
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau Lot 49May 2018£1,770est. $ 800-1,200
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau Lot 44March 2017£960est. £ 400-600
Stick good, handle with repairs, frog very good except for minor adjustments to the thumb projection Lot 191December 2016£780est. £ 400-600
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, good condition Lot 264June 2016£720est. £ 600-1,000
Silver mounted, signed Aug. Rau, thin lapping, handle and head blemishes, otherwise good condition Lot 845June 2016£843est. € 1.000
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug. Rau, very good condition Lot 6December 2015£660est. £ 500-800
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug Rau Lot 3November 2015£1,560est. £ 1,500-2,200
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau Lot 47November 2015£531est. £ 700-1,000
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug. Rau Germany Lot 85June 2015£611est. $ 800-1,200
Silver mounted, round stick stamped to the audience side August Rau Markneukirchen Lot 140June 2014£530est. $ 1,000-1,500
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver and ebony button Lot 163May 2014£614est. £ 300-500
Nickel mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, ebony frog with pearl eye, nickel and ebony button Lot 179May 2014£354est. £ 300-500
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug. Rau and Germany Lot 119February 2014£936est. $ 800-1,200
Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped *AUG. RAU* Lot 41December 2013£1,982est. € 2.000-3.000
From a private German collection, silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, ebony frog Lot 142October 2013£1,260est. £ 500-800
From a private German collection, silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, ivory frog Lot 144October 2013£1,800est. £ 500-800
From a private German collection, silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped AUG. RAU, ebony frog Lot 151October 2013£1,380est. £ 500-800
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped faintly *Aug Rau*, ebony frog with pearl eye, full hair Lot 212BonhamsJanuary 2012£725est. £ 500-600
Violin BowS/E 57.0 g. Probably byJanuary 2011£696
Violin BowS/E 65.0 g.January 2010£462
Violin BowS/E 61.0 g.January 2010£731
Violin BowS/E 58 g. (later button)January 2010£720
Viola BowG/E 57.5 g.January 2010£2,465
Violin BowS/E 50 g. without hairJanuary 2010£691
Cello BowS/E 79.0 g.January 2009£1,200
Violin BowS/E 60 g.January 2009£667
Violin BowS/E 56 g.January 2009£358
Violin BowS/E 54 g. Markneukirchen, 1935 c.January 2008£698
Violin BowS/E 65 g. Markneukirchen, 1950 c.January 2008£1,197
Violin BowS/T 62 g. Markneukirchen, 1950 c.January 2008£798
Violin BowS/E 57 g. Markneukirchen, 1950 c.January 2008£898
Violin BowS/I 66 g. 1950 c.January 2008£998
Violin BowS/E 54 g. Germany, 1900 c. no hair or wrappingJanuary 2008£741
Violin BowG/T 58.0 g. (pin crack behind head)January 2007£742
Violin BowS/E 55 g. (with baleen wrap)January 2007£1,120
Violin BowG/T 60.0 g. 1900 c.January 2006£1,654
Violin BowG/E 60.9 g. Germany, 1925 c. Stamped "F.N. Voirin" Attributed toJanuary 2006£1,035
Violin BowS/I 64 g.January 2005£553
Violin BowS/E 59 g.January 2005£1,310
Violin BowS/E 60 g.January 2005£936
Violin BowS/E 58 g.January 2005£484
Violin BowN/EJanuary 2005£404
Violin BowS/E 56.5 g. with tinsel lappingJanuary 2005£733
Violin BowS/E 64 g. (later adjustor)January 2005£376
Violin BowS/E 58.3 g.January 2004£597
Violin BowN/E 58 g.January 2001£500
Violin BowS/E 56 g.January 2001£986
Violin BowG/T 52 g.January 2000£1,450
Violin BowS/E 63 g.January 1999£600
Violin BowS/E 63 g.January 1999£500
Violin BowS/E 56 g.January 1999£218
Violin BowG/E 57 g.January 1999£1,035
Violin BowS/E 51 g.January 1999£230
Violin BowG/E 54 g.January 1998£575
Cello BowS/E 77 g.January 1992£791
Viola BowS/E 68 g.January 1991£711
Violin BowS/E 59 g.January 1990£198
Violin BowS/E 57 g.January 1990£660
Cello BowN/E 76 g.January 1989£418
Cello BowS/E 76 g.January 1988£330

Biographies

The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:

John Dilworth+

RAU, August Born 1866 Siebenbrunn, Markneukirchen, died 1951 Markneukirchen Germany. Bow maker. One of the best makers of the German school. Worked for W. Knopf and A. R. Weichold in Dresden. Established at Markneukirchen 1890-1939. Elegant head with best pernambuco sticks.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Er lernte von 1880—1884 das Bogenmachen und setzte seine Studien noch als Gehilfe fleissig fort, so dass er bei Wilhelm Knopf in Dresden Aufnahme fand, wo er sich zu einem vollkommenen Künstler in seinem Fache ausbilden konnte. Im Jahre 1890 eröffnete Rau in Markneukirchen seine eigene Werkstatt. Da er zur Herstellung seiner Bögen nur das allerbeste Material verwendet, eine seltene Handfertigkeit besitzt und ein genauer Kenner der Tourte’schen Schule ist, verstand er es bald, sich in Musikerkreisen einen grossen Ruf zu verschaffen, und darf heute als der weitaus tüchtigste Bogenmacher Markneukirchens betrachtet werden. Auch seine Violoncellobogen sind sehr gelobt worden. Seine Bögen kommen jetzt den besten französischen gleich.

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