Violin/Fiddle

Hardanger Violin - Knudt G. Helland

Chippewa Fall, Barron County, Wisconsin
Western Europe

wood, mother-of-pearl, metal
1904

Length: 25 in, Width: 8.5 in, Depth: 1.6 in (not including bridge height)
Labeled: Knudt G. Helland violin maker - Signed: Knudt (1880-1920) (Chippewa Falls) Barron Co. Wis. - 1904

The Helland family from Bø in Telemark is a Norwegian dynasty of Hardanger fiddle makers who have made the most significant and important contributions to the development of the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle tradition. According to Laura Ellestad's Ph.D. thesis (at the Norwegian Academy of Music), the Helland Brothers (Knudt and Gunnar Helland) emigrated from Telemark in 1901, to Wisconsin and between 1905-1927 became renowned as Hardanger fiddle makers. This Norwegian Hardanger has four melody strings with four additional sympathetic strings, and black pen-and-ink drawings, called rosing. On top is a carved lion head with a gold crown. The fret board and tailpiece each have mother-of-pearl inlay with a sunburst design. The Hardanger fiddle is often called Norway's national instrument.

Owner:
Catalog#: 2CL-CHLT-15

The Oxford Handbook of Popular Music in the Nordic Countries

© Hartenberger World Music Collection