My (short) quest for a bow has pretty much come to a conclusion: I have fallen in love with one of the two Marco Raposo bows that were sent to me. I would like a Carbon Fibre one someday but prefer the feel of the wooden one just now.

However my Husband was concerned about it being a Pernambuco bow so I looked into the ethics behind the company. Their website is excellent (although a couple of the pages don't seem finished) and gives an insight into their ethical standpoint so I'm delighted to support them in the small way of buying one of their bows.

It appears the bows are made from wood which was used for "colonial farm fences" so it is recycled. They also have a programme of reseach and reforestation which is excellent for their local environment and the rainforests as a whole! And they also use a local workforce. I wish more companies would follow their example.

Anyway it's all here http://www.marcoraposo.com/

I think 'Viva Strings' should definitely have a Marco Raposo fan club so who'd like to join? Oh and many thanks to everyone on here who recommended them.

p.s. According to Martha the new bow in the family needs a name..... any suggestions????

I'll join, I'll join!! I love my Marco Raposo, it's both pretty and works very well

Like you, I had issues with the sustainability etc. of the manafacture of the bows and went and had a look at the website. Looking back at it now, I think it could well work as a case study for my Geography exam as well, which would be good

As to names, you could call it Marco, in honour of the maker, or you could go more adventurous? I don't know...

Glad to hear you found a great bow

Gosh i never thought of naming my bow (my violin being Fidelio ). Maybe you could jumble up the letters of 'Martha' to make a name for the bow or something Tharma... Artham... maybe not

i absolutely love my marco raposo bow, and it makes a gorgeous sound with my violin and the match really really well.