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Source Description
In France, the hurdy-gurdy is known as the vielle à roue (wheel fiddle). This six-stringed musical instrument produces sound by a hand crank-turned wheel that rubs against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes sound similar to those of a violin. Melodies are played on a keyboard that presses small wedges against the strings to change their pitch.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
399214
label
Vielle à Roue (Hurdy-Gurdy)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
399214
contentType
object
title
Vielle à Roue (Hurdy-Gurdy)
description
In France, the hurdy-gurdy is known as the vielle à roue (wheel fiddle). This six-stringed musical instrument produces sound by a hand crank-turned wheel that rubs against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes sound similar to those of a violin. Melodies are played on a keyboard that presses small wedges against the strings to change their pitch.
date
1865–70
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q117245214
creators
399211
genreSpecific
Musical Instrument
imageCount
1
source
import
cul
France
accession
2020.422
Source extras
tec
Wood; mother-of-pearl inlay
tombstone
Vielle à Roue (Hurdy-Gurdy), 1865–70. Jacques Decante (French, 1808–1884). Wood; mother-of-pearl inlay. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Clara Taplin Rankin, 2020.422
collection
Decorative Arts
didYouKnow
This vielle à roue was made in the French village of Jenzat, which was the manufacturing center for hurdy-gurdies during the 19th century.
creditline
Gift of Clara Taplin Rankin
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:59:18.939000
sourceId
399214
dept
Decorative Art and Design
coll
Decorative Arts
med
Wood; mother-of-pearl inlay
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
98d7e6a2380d4648