Pernambuco export ban and the future of violin bows
I read somewhere (and confirmed with a local violin shop owner) that Brazil government recently banned pernambuco wood export (according to him, the ban has only been in effect for 6 months or so), but still allows export of pernambuco bows. I'm wondering whether this will change the landscape of bow making. Will Brazil become a monopoly of pernambuco bows? How will bow makers outside of Brazil survive? Will some of them have to change career because they cannot locate pernambuco wood? Will we start seeing more high quality bows made of other woods or new materials? Are there any pernambuco sources outside of Brazil? Please share your thoughts and insight, thanks!
Replies (2)
People who have analyzed the situation tell me that it is too early to tell. Apparently, bow makers buy large inventories (multiple decade supply is common) when they start their business (to let the wood cure). The export ban has been talked about for years, so presumably more wood has gone into inventory. The inventory of wood outside Brazil is large, but who knows how large. Brazil's export ban has been stated as temporary, for several years, while re-forestation projects occur. But pernambuco is a slow growing tree, and we don't know how well re-forestation will succeed. It is possible the existing inventories will carry bow makers through the period of export ban. It is possible the ban will be longer than expected and create high prices and even shortages.
Seems to me that only a small number of people who are in the pernambuco wholesaling business and are very experienced with Brazil's government actions have enough information to have a well informed forecast. Are you out there? What's the prognosis and why?
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April 27, 2010 at 10:51 PM ·
One thing that will surely change is the PRICE of pernambuco bows. Supposedly US and European makers have large stores of wood, and bows don't use as much as, say, furniture. There are people searching Central and South America for new woods to use, and of course many are exploring all the possibilities of carbon fiber, graphite, etc. I've seen bows for sale made from snakewood and ipe, but have never actually had one in hand.
There are several companies making and exporting very good bows from Brazil. That will only increase, in both quantity and quality we can hope.
Several magazines have had articles about this. I remember seeing one in Strings not so long ago. Smithsonian ran one a few years back. It seems that pernambuco being endangered has nothing to do with the bow trade. Instead, clear-cutting land to graze cattle is a major culprit.