Maker and Restorer of Fine Bows Expert Appraisals Certification © Michael J. Taylor           ertificates are very important documents that set the provenance of an instrument or bow and have been  around, in various forms, for many years. Very often the instrument or bow cannot be sold without one; which leaves the owner in a very difficult or unfair position. Unfortunately, the owner can become a pawn in a much bigger game. Because of this and the legal consequences, an expert must be trusted by the owners of the bows certified.      The ‘expert’ world of violins and bows is not a science, it is an opinion based on experience. The better the experience usually the better the expert. However, on a world platform, experience is very varied indeed and can often result in the same bow certified as being made by a variety of different makers.       I offer the service of the ‘certification’ of bows for a fee of 10% of the value of the bow and will not take the writing of a certificate lightly.