DMI.Bowed String Instruments The MFA's Musical Instruments Collection contains over 1,100 examples from around the world, ranging from ancient times to the twenty-first century. Explore a selection of bowed string instruments from the Museum's holdings. /internal/media/dispatcher/783594/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Alto viola da gamba (?) late 19th century 17.1713 50246 /internal/media/dispatcher/1799872/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Aluminum violin with case designed 1932 Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) 2014.1446.1-2 520119 /internal/media/dispatcher/763862/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 American bass viol about 1825–30 Abraham Prescott 65.2687 50874 /internal/media/dispatcher/834767/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 American bass viol 1788 Benjamin Crehore 1976.147 50920 /internal/media/dispatcher/763873/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 American bass viol about 1800 Benjamin Crehore 1976.156 50921 /internal/media/dispatcher/834123/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 American bass viol 1800–25 1982.475 51091 /internal/media/dispatcher/834122/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 American bass viol about 1800 Benjamin Crehore 1983.148 51100 /internal/media/dispatcher/796389/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 American bass viol about 1800 Benjamin Crehore 1984.79 51236 /internal/media/dispatcher/763948/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 American bass viol 1810 Benjamin Whittemore Willard 1987.15 51286 /internal/media/dispatcher/763949/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 American bass viol 1833–45 Abraham Prescott 1987.16 51287 /internal/media/dispatcher/834124/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 American bass viol 19th century 1987.21 51295 /internal/media/dispatcher/1086490/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 American bass viol 1807 William Green 2009.2222 516850 /internal/media/dispatcher/834128/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Baryton late 19th century Adolph Gutche 17.1721 50255 /internal/media/dispatcher/834126/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bass viola da gamba 1713 Barak Norman 17.1716 50249 /internal/media/dispatcher/834134/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bass viola da gamba about 1710 Claude Pierray 17.1717 50250 /internal/media/dispatcher/763857/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bass viola da gamba 1733 Arwitt Rönnegren 65.2685 50871 /internal/media/dispatcher/763910/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bass viola da gamba 1677 Richard Meares I 1981.748 51039 /internal/media/dispatcher/783685/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bowed lyre (jouhikko) and bow 1949 Dick Backlund 1982.8a-b 51097 /internal/media/dispatcher/783598/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bowed zither 1879 Josef Ferdinand Sprenger 17.1724 50259 /internal/media/dispatcher/783720/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for double bass 19th century 17.1732b 50267 /internal/media/dispatcher/783788/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for double bass late 18th century 1974.31 50900 /internal/media/dispatcher/783808/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for double bass 1800–50 1987.27 51301 /internal/media/dispatcher/783813/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for double bass 19th century 1991.1176 51454 /internal/media/dispatcher/1383915/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for double bass 1820–40 2011.1981 556412 /internal/media/dispatcher/783805/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for folk violin 19th century 1987.24 51298 /internal/media/dispatcher/783806/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for folk violin 19th century 1987.25 51299 /internal/media/dispatcher/783723/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for viola da gamba about 1800 17.1744 50281 /internal/media/dispatcher/783719/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for viola d'amore 19th century 17.1720b 50254 /internal/media/dispatcher/783721/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for violin about 1740 17.1742 50279 /internal/media/dispatcher/783722/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for violin about 1800 17.1743 50280 /internal/media/dispatcher/783724/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for violin late 19th century 17.1745 50282 /internal/media/dispatcher/783787/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for violin about 1790 Dodd workshop 1974.30 50899 /internal/media/dispatcher/783804/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for violin late 19th century Asa Warren White 1987.23 51297 /internal/media/dispatcher/783807/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for violin 19th century 1987.26 51300 /internal/media/dispatcher/783809/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for violin mid 19th century 1989.133 51318 /internal/media/dispatcher/783810/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for violin about 1900 F. P. Brown 1989.134 51319 /internal/media/dispatcher/1383916/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for violin late 19th century Jules Lamy 2012.936 563128 /internal/media/dispatcher/783793/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Bow for violoncello about 1900 Henry Richard Knopf 1977.809 50964 /internal/media/dispatcher/783600/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Cigar-box violin late 19th century E. Clifford 17.1727 50262 /internal/media/dispatcher/752029/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Cither viol 1794 Perry & Wilkinson 17.1725 50260 /internal/media/dispatcher/783597/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Cither viol (converted from pardessus de viole) 1721 François Vaillan 17.1723 50258 /internal/media/dispatcher/783592/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Dance master's violin probably 19th century 17.1709 50243 /internal/media/dispatcher/783593/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Dance master's violin 1753 Christian Phillip Blumenhagen 17.1710 50244 /internal/media/dispatcher/889166/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Dance master's violin 1673 Georg Wörle 1995.123 51477 /internal/media/dispatcher/763780/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Descant viola da gamba (pardessus de viole) 1752 Benoist Fleury 17.1712 50245 /internal/media/dispatcher/842186/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Double bass about 1870 17.1732a 50266 /internal/media/dispatcher/763950/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Double bass 1823 Abraham Prescott 1987.22 51296 /internal/media/dispatcher/1812827/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Electric double bass 2018 NS Design 2018.2218 670034 /internal/media/dispatcher/1798497/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Electric viola 2018 NS Design 2018.2216 670031 /internal/media/dispatcher/1376137/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Electric violin 1936 Electro String Instrument Corporation (Rickenbacker brand) 2012.934 565366 /internal/media/dispatcher/1565266/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Electric violin 2018 NS Design 2018.2214 670019 /internal/media/dispatcher/1798496/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Electric violin 2018 NS Design 2018.2215 670030 /internal/media/dispatcher/1779280/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Electric violoncello 2018 NS Design 2018.2217 670032 /internal/media/dispatcher/null/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 English violette (with later alterations) 1725–50 17.1720a 50253 /internal/media/dispatcher/783591/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Fiddle (crwth) 19th century Owain Tudur 17.1708 50242 /internal/media/dispatcher/1780621/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Fiddle (gadulka) and bow mid 20th century 2018.17.1-2 656540 /internal/media/dispatcher/969025/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Fiddle (gusle) and bow late 19th century 2005.209a-b 455621 /internal/media/dispatcher/1447556/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Fiddle (gusle) and bow 1950–80 2015.3099.1-2 625592 /internal/media/dispatcher/783590/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Fiddle (husla) 18th century 17.1707 50241 /internal/media/dispatcher/1455350/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Fiddle (lyra) 1981 Manolis Karpouzakis 2015.3098 625591 /internal/media/dispatcher/783588/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Fiddle (lyra) and bow 19th century 17.1705a-b 50238 /internal/media/dispatcher/783589/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Fiddle (rebec, after Medieval type) late 19th century 17.1706 50240 /internal/media/dispatcher/783672/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Folk violin early 19th century 1976.137 50919 /internal/media/dispatcher/763947/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Folk violin 19th century 1987.10 51281 /internal/media/dispatcher/783697/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Folk violin 19th century 1987.11 51282 /internal/media/dispatcher/783698/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Folk violin 19th century 1987.12 51283 /internal/media/dispatcher/783699/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Folk violin 19th century 1987.13 51284 /internal/media/dispatcher/783700/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Folk violin 19th century 1987.14 51285 /internal/media/dispatcher/1555833/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Folk violin about 1924 W. L. Luke 2017.95 645065 /internal/media/dispatcher/1214095/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Folk violin and case 1936 C. W. Raborn 2010.613.1-2 546688 /internal/media/dispatcher/1002718/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Guitar-shaped viola 1840s Dominick E. Ragot 2007.74 50227 /internal/media/dispatcher/783601/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Guitar-shaped violin 19th century 17.1728 50263 /internal/media/dispatcher/763946/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Guitar-shaped violin 1834 Peter M. Slocum 1987.9 51310 /internal/media/dispatcher/752016/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Guitar-shaped violin about 1820 2000.644 273539 /internal/media/dispatcher/1765256/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Guitar-shaped violin 1882 Elbridge Gerry Shaw 2019.505 673702 /internal/media/dispatcher/969026/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Hardanger violin 1800 Erik Jonssen Helland 2005.210 455622 /internal/media/dispatcher/763782/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Hardanger violin and bow 1838 Jorgen Knudsen 17.1722a-b 50256 /internal/media/dispatcher/763783/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Hurdy-gurdy early 19th century Rémy Bassot 17.1735 50272 /internal/media/dispatcher/783676/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Hurdy-gurdy (lira) 1800–25 1977.9 50977 /internal/media/dispatcher/889171/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Keyed fiddle (nyckelharpa) and bow 19th century 17.1734a-b 50270 /internal/media/dispatcher/783692/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Phonographic violin (Stroh violin) 1900–25 George Evans & Company 1984.544 51234 /internal/media/dispatcher/783599/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Practice violin about 1820–40 William Baker 17.1726 50261 /internal/media/dispatcher/783681/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Practice violin about 1900 1981.766 51056 /internal/media/dispatcher/783706/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Practice violin about 1920 Edmund Franklin Bryant 1991.72 51458 /internal/media/dispatcher/1214098/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Practice violin about 1886 Charles F. Albert 2010.614 541578 /internal/media/dispatcher/1415132/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Practice violoncello about 1923 Jules Lamy 2015.115 607082 /internal/media/dispatcher/783717/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Rebec (after 13th-century type) 1968 Donald Warnock 68.845 50885 /internal/media/dispatcher/1411280/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Shoe violin (violin sabot) 19th century Antoine C. Freze 2015.116 609288 /internal/media/dispatcher/783711/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Tenor vielle (after Renaissance type) 1959 Eugen Sprenger II 59.1108 50853 /internal/media/dispatcher/783595/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Tenor viola da gamba (?) 1725–50 Johann Joseph Elsler 17.1714 50247 /internal/media/dispatcher/783596/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Tenor viola da gamba 1752 Jesper Gotfredsen 17.1715 50248 /internal/media/dispatcher/834130/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Tenor viola da gamba about 1600 Richard Blunt 17.1718 50251 /internal/media/dispatcher/763856/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Tenor violin about 1820–40 65.2684 50870 /internal/media/dispatcher/783673/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Tenor violin early 19th century 1977.65 50946 /internal/media/dispatcher/783680/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Trapezoidal-shaped violin 1825–50 1981.765 51055 /internal/media/dispatcher/783714/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Treble viola da gamba (after Renaissance type) 1965 Donald Warnock 66.1129 50875 /internal/media/dispatcher/830832/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Trumpet marine and bow about 1700 17.1733a 50268 /internal/media/dispatcher/783602/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Viola about 1750–60 Joseph Hill 17.1730 50264 /internal/media/dispatcher/783687/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Viola 1795 Johann Michael Willer 1983.161 51102 /internal/media/dispatcher/783693/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail;jsessionid=946337CB9CDFDAC75D5C26A438923B98 Viola 1787 Gérard J. Deleplanque 1984.557 51235