Episode 88: Celso de Mello talks about Pernambuco

Episode 88: Celso de Mello talks about Pernambuco

From omo by for Luthiers, by Luthiers

May 29, 2026 · 40 min · Season 8

About this episode

Becka Hannigan interviews Celso de Mello about the complexities of bow making and wood conservation in Brazil.

Becka Hannigan sits down with Celso de Mello, co-founder of Arcos Brasil, to discuss the changing world of bow making, exotic wood conservation, and the increasingly complex realities of working with Pernambuco and alternative bow woods in Brazil. Celso shares his firsthand perspective from decades in the industry, beginning in the mid-1990s when regulations surrounding Pernambuco were less restrictive, through the major CITES changes of 2007, and into the modern era of strict tracking, auditing, and environmental oversight. He explains how the Brazilian government monitors and documents wood through extensive databases and chain-of-custody systems, creating a highly regulated environment for makers and exporters. The conversation explores Arcos Brasil’s long history in the bow trade, the company’s involvement in conservation and replanting efforts, and the broader challenge of preserving both endangered species and the centuries-old tradition of bow making. Celso also discusses the company’s transition in recent years toward producing bows from Ipe and other alternative woods as the industry adapts to evolving regulations and environmental realities. Resources…

People in this episode

Host: Becka Hannigan

Guest: Celso de Mello

Topics covered

  • bow making
  • Pernambuco
  • wood conservation
  • CITES regulations
  • environmental oversight
  • alternative bow woods

Keywords

  • bow making
  • Pernambuco
  • wood conservation
  • CITES
  • Arcos Brasil
  • Ipe
  • environmental regulations

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Arcos Brasil, CITES, IPCI, Alliance International

Places: Brazil

More episodes of omo

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the omo podcast page.