This is a fiddle from Norway, which has sympathetic harmonic strings
which go under the bridge. If you watched the Olympics from Lillehammer
Norway a few years back, the opening ceremony was perfromed by a host
of fiddlers on skis (or were they skiers with fiddles?) sliding down
the hillside while playing! what a spectacle. for more you can go to
http://www.hfaa.org/ Hardanger Fiddle association of America. Here you can find sound samples, instruments fro sale and more. In Norwegian it is called a hardingfele is the national instrument of Norway, as the Nyckelharpa (which also has sympathetic resonating strings )is the national instrument of Sweden. It originated near the Hardanger fjord of Norway. Each instrument is decorated with inlay, scrimshaw-like ink designs and carved head stock. often a lion. (though lions were not found that far north!!)