john hartford's fiddle had a "scrimshaw" type etching of a steam boat
on the back....wish i could find my picture of it--or any other foto
of it.
Hardanger fiddles are beautifully inlaid, ingraved and carved...often
with a scroll head in the shape of a lion wearing a crown, and pearly
designs inlaid into the fingerboard.
Marion our busking canadian had a thread about decorated
instruments a while back too. she has a ribbon reminiscient of
a scottish tartan plaid decorating her fiddle and i have a
little jeweled bead thing hanging from my guitar...sort of like
guitar earrings...I have seen some beautiful abalone inlay on
some guitar finger boards too....
many guitars had a humming bird design on the ;front...
perhaps the one you saw which was upside down was being played
by a left handed player..