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
A silver-mounted violin bow by August Rau, Markneukirchen — head and frog
Violin bow by August Rau. Sold by Amati — from the archive.

Instruments

Auction Price History

Highest auction price

£2,465

80 results

Type Details Auction house Sold Price
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped *august rau*, frog with pearl eye Lot 2755Hargesheim.March 2026£689est. Estimate € 650
Violin BowSilver mounted, round stick stamped Aug Rau, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver button Lot 147GardinerMarch 2025£2,013est. £ 1,200-1,800
Cello BowSilver mounted, signed, minor stick and head blemishes, otherwise very good condition Lot 546—November 2022£2,035est. € 1.000-1.500
Viola BowSilver mounted, signed August Rau, silver lapping, handle crack, otherwise good condition Lot 578—June 2022£2,390est. € 1.000-1.200
Violin BowSilver mounted, ebony frog Lot 190—November 2021£1,269est. CHF 200-300
Violin BowA silver-mounted violin bow by August Rau, Markneukirchen Lot 55AmatiJune 2021£569est. £ 200-400
Violin BowSilver mounted, stick signed, ebony frog, silk lapping, very good condition Lot 52—April 2021£886est. € 300-400
Violin BowSilver mounted, signed, unhaired and unlapping, frog blemish, minor handle wear, good condition Lot 2080—September 2020£882
Cello BowSilver mounted, frog and button by C.A. Bazin, minor stick and head blemishes, minor handle wear Lot 839—September 2020£1,542
Violin BowNickel mounted, octagonal stick stamped A. Rau** Lot 232Brompton'sJune 2020£408est. £ 300-400
Violin BowA silver-mounted violin bow by August Rau, Germany Lot 16AmatiMarch 2020£885est. £ 500-800
Violin BowA silver-mounted violin bow by August Rau, Germany Lot 21AmatiMarch 2020£1,517est. £ 100-150
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver and ebony button Lot 48—October 2019£1,800est. £ 1,000-1,500
Violin BowA silver-mounted violin bow by August Rau, Germany Lot 6AmatiJune 2019£948est. £ 300-500
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug. Rau Lot 43—June 2019£720est. £ 400-600
Violin BowA silver-mounted violin bow by August Rau, Germany Lot 8AmatiMarch 2019£822est. £ 400-500
Violin BowA silver-mounted violin bow by August Rau, Germany Lot 168AmatiMarch 2019£1,074est. £ 500-1,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug. Rau Lot 75—November 2018£685est. $ 500-800
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug. Rau & Sohn, ebony frog plain, silver button Lot 174—October 2018£576est. £ 350-450
Cello BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, ebony frog with Paris eye, silver button Lot 91—October 2018£2,400est. £ 1,000-1,500
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau Lot 49—May 2018£1,770est. $ 800-1,200
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau Lot 44—March 2017£960est. £ 400-600
Violin BowStick good, handle with repairs, frog very good except for minor adjustments to the thumb projection Lot 191—December 2016£780est. £ 400-600
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, good condition Lot 264—June 2016£720est. £ 600-1,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, signed Aug. Rau, thin lapping, handle and head blemishes, otherwise good condition Lot 845—June 2016£843est. € 1.000
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug. Rau, very good condition Lot 6—December 2015£660est. £ 500-800
Cello BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug Rau Lot 3—November 2015£1,560est. £ 1,500-2,200
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau Lot 47—November 2015£531est. £ 700-1,000
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug. Rau Germany Lot 85—June 2015£611est. $ 800-1,200
Violin BowSilver mounted, round stick stamped to the audience side August Rau Markneukirchen Lot 140—June 2014£530est. $ 1,000-1,500
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver and ebony button Lot 163—May 2014£614est. £ 300-500
Violin BowNickel mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, ebony frog with pearl eye, nickel and ebony button Lot 179—May 2014£354est. £ 300-500
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped Aug. Rau and Germany Lot 119—February 2014£936est. $ 800-1,200
Violin BowSilver mounted, octagonal stick stamped *AUG. RAU* Lot 41—December 2013£1,982est. € 2.000-3.000
Violin BowFrom a private German collection, silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, ebony frog Lot 142—October 2013£1,260est. £ 500-800
Violin BowFrom a private German collection, silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped August Rau, ivory frog Lot 144—October 2013£1,800est. £ 500-800
Violin BowFrom a private German collection, silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped AUG. RAU, ebony frog Lot 151—October 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 by—December 2011£696
Violin BowS/E 65.0 g.—July 2010£462
Violin BowS/E 61.0 g.—July 2010£731
Violin BowS/E 58 g. (later button)—June 2010£720
Viola BowG/E 57.5 g.—April 2010£2,465
Violin BowS/E 50 g. without hair—April 2010£691
Cello BowS/E 79.0 g.—October 2009£1,200
Violin BowS/E 60 g.—October 2009£667
Violin BowS/E 56 g.—March 2009£358
Violin BowS/E 54 g. Markneukirchen, 1935 c.—November 2008£698
Violin BowS/E 65 g. Markneukirchen, 1950 c.—November 2008£1,197
Violin BowS/T 62 g. Markneukirchen, 1950 c.—November 2008£798
Violin BowS/E 57 g. Markneukirchen, 1950 c.—November 2008£898
Violin BowS/I 66 g. 1950 c.—November 2008£998
Violin BowS/E 54 g. Germany, 1900 c. no hair or wrapping—November 2008£741
Violin BowG/T 58.0 g. (pin crack behind head)—October 2007£742
Violin BowS/E 55 g. (with baleen wrap)—May 2007£1,120
Violin BowG/T 60.0 g. 1900 c.—November 2006£1,654
Violin BowG/E 60.9 g. Germany, 1925 c. Stamped "F.N. Voirin" Attributed to—October 2006£1,035
Violin BowS/I 64 g.—November 2005£553
Violin BowS/E 59 g.—May 2005£1,310
Violin BowS/E 60 g.—May 2005£936
Violin BowS/E 58 g.—May 2005£484
Violin BowN/E—May 2005£404
Violin BowS/E 56.5 g. with tinsel lapping—May 2005£733
Violin BowS/E 64 g. (later adjustor)—April 2005£376
Violin BowS/E 58.3 g.—July 2004£597
Violin BowN/E 58 g.—November 2001£500
Violin BowS/E 56 g.—May 2001£986
Violin BowG/T 52 g.—May 2000£1,450
Violin BowS/E 63 g.—November 1999£600
Violin BowS/E 63 g.—November 1999£500
Violin BowS/E 56 g.—June 1999£218
Violin BowG/E 57 g.—March 1999£1,035
Violin BowS/E 51 g.—March 1999£230
Violin BowG/E 54 g.—March 1998£575
Cello BowS/E 77 g.—November 1992£791
Viola BowS/E 68 g.—June 1991£711
Violin BowS/E 59 g.—March 1990£198
Violin BowS/E 57 g.—March 1990£660
Cello BowN/E 76 g.—March 1989£418
Cello BowS/E 76 g.—September 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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