Thomas Gerbeth
Thomas M. Gerbeth completed his apprenticeship under master bow makers Wolfgang Dürrschmidt and R. Herbert Leicht. From 1989 onwards, he pursued further studies with Günter A. Paulus and Steffen Kuhnla. Starting in 1991, Thomas M. Gerbeth worked in the Richard Grünke workshop, where he was entrusted with complex repairs on high-quality bows in addition to crafting new ones. In 1993, he successfully passed the master craftsman examination in bow making before the Chamber of Crafts for Middle Franconia.
In September 1996, he expanded his craftsmanship skills through an internship with Stéphane Thomachot in Paris.
In July 1997, Thomas M. Gerbeth established his own business in Vienna, becoming the first bow maker in Austria to hold the German master craftsman title. From 1998 to 2001, he served as secretary of the Association of German Violin and Bow Makers (Verband Deutscher Geigenbauer und Bogenmacher e.V.), and from 1999 to 2003, he was president of the Association of Austrian Master Violin and Bow Makers. For years, Thomas M. Gerbeth has been committed to the preservation of Pernambuco wood, serving as the Austrian national delegate for the International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative (IPCI). Through the publication of the specialist journal "pernambuco," Thomas and his wife Anke Gerbeth are dedicated to sharing expert knowledge regarding the craft of bow making. |
ZWISCHEN ARTENSCHUTZ UND KONZERTSAAL
Participants
- Thomas Gerbeth speaker
Programme
Between Conservation and the Concert Hall – Pernambuco Bows under New CITES Regulations
Pernambuco (*Paubrasilia echinata*) is a critically endangered tree species from Brazil. Its wood is prized for its stability, flexibility, and low weight, making it the primary material for crafting bows for string instruments.
Stricter CITES regulations for Pernambuco wood—which came into effect on March 5, 2026, following the most recent Conference of the Parties—have introduced new rules governing international trade and sales within the EU. However, the species' protection status remains unchanged; it has been under special protection since 2007. This presentation examines the implications for bow makers, musicians, the trade sector, and international travel. It focuses on the practical consequences regarding documentation, ownership, and transfer, as well as how species conservation can be reconciled with the responsible preservation of the art of bow making.
Master bow maker Thomas M. Gerbeth, who lives in his adopted home of Vienna, is committed to the conservation and sustainable future of Pernambuco. Through the International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative, he brings together species conservation, traditional bow making, and scientific research. His work focuses on projects in Brazil that promote the preservation, reforestation, and responsible use of this essential tree species for bow making.
Subject change.