Title

Fiddle, Norwegian, Hardanger

Creation Date

1820

Count

2

Description

Norwegian Hardanger fiddle owned by Syverson family. Decorated with pearl and ivory inlay on the finger board and tailpiece as well as along the edge of the body. There is wood burned rosemaling style designs above the bridge, on the sides, and on the scroll. The scroll is carved in the likeness of a lion with gold painted mane. File card says made in 1832-1836 but believed to be older, probably 1820.

Original file information: [this junior size Hardanger violin was made by a grandfather of Gunner Helland, a violin maker in Fargo. Ole Syverson was the original owner and the father of Knute and Syver Syverson of Ulen (1963). It has four resonant strings underneath the regular ones.]
In the file is a photo of the violin and the curator of the Clay Co Museum - also an article about the violin from the Fargo Forum and a picture of Knute Severson holding the Hardanger fiddle. There is also a recording of the music from the Hardanger fiddle in the museum archives.