Hardanger fiddle

Hardingfele, a fiddle of Western Norway originating in the Hardanger region, with four sympathetic strings. Front, one-piece, of fine-grained ?pine Back, two-piece, of ?birch, quartered at centre, slabcut at edges. Elaborately painted purfling and edging on front and back. Neck and pegbox of same wood as back; pegbox narrow, parallel-sided, having four pegs for playing strings with engraved bone platings. Nut for four sympathetic strings formed of dart-shaped piece of harder wood inserted in lower end of pegbox underneath nut for playing strings. Bridge, maple, of plain form with simple opening for sympathetic strings; curve of top of bridge turns up slightly at ends.