What is the purpose of the white dot on the frog of a violin bow?

tjoebigham

It is the screw to tighten the catgut strings on the bow. Nov 14 01, 8:13 PM

Flo54

It is not the white dot that tightens the bow hair! The bow hair is comprised of horse-tail hair, not cat gut. Don't know why the white dot, usually mother of pearl, is on the bow frog, probably an original indication of where to put one's middle finger. Dec 31 06, 2:49 PM

Baloo55th

I agree with Flo. I think tjoe was getting confused with the mother of pearl bit on the head of the tightening screw. The question asks about the mark on the side of the frog. I've never worked out what it was for - just thought it was traditional like the scroll on the violin. (Having said that, I learned violin on one with a lion's head instead of a scroll.) Dec 31 06, 3:38 PM

Arpeggionist

And I thought it was purely decorative. Dec 31 06, 4:47 PM