Kontrabasharpa (Keyed Fiddle)
Musical instrument, decorative art, and folk craft • Anonymous Swedish folk instrument maker (Upland Region style)
Style & Movement
Scandinavian Folk Art / Traditional Nordic Musical Craft
Medium & Technique
Carved wood, metal, gut, and horsehair with hand-forged mechanical keys and pegs
Creation Period
Early 1800s (specifically from the Uppland Region, Sweden)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 80–100 cm in length; elongated, irregular structural format with mechanical hardware extending from the neck
Subject Description
A traditional Swedish bowed instrument featuring a complex tangent mechanism. It includes one row of melody selection keys, two melody strings, a drone string, and sympathetic strings that resonate to provide a rich, buzzing harmonic texture.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good (Museum quality); appears stable with historic patina and intact mechanical components.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 - $12,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$4,000 - $8,000 USD
Provenance History
Currently part of a museum collection (as evidenced by institutional display mounting and labels); likely originated from a rural Swedish estate or folk music heritage collection.
Art Historical Significance
A critical evolutionary link in the history of the Nyckelharpa. The Kontrabasharpa is a rare precursor to the modern chromatic version, representing 19th-century regional folk innovation and the preservation of medieval-style drone music traditions.
Notable Features
Single row of wooden keys; primitive 'droning' bridge design; accompanied by a short, traditional convex bow and a decorative woven strap characteristic of the period.
Condition Issues
Visible surface wear on the wooden body (patina), minor oxidation on metal components, and typical aging of gut strings. No structural cracks or catastrophic timber losses are evident.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strict humidity control (45-55%) to prevent wood splitting; low UV lighting; professional luthiery consultation for string tension management.