Erik Jonsson Helland

Who was Erik Jonsson Helland?

Erik Jonsson Helland was a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker from Bø in Telemark.

He was the eldest son of the Hardanger fiddle maker Jon Eriksson Helland. As time went on, Erik Jonsson Helland began to specialize in making Hardanger fiddles and gained reputation as the foremost in the trade. In the 1850s, he gained national attention and was awarded a national scholarship to study with the violin makers, Enger & Son in Copenhagen, Denmark. However, he had already accomplished sufficient artistic skill that the stay in Copenhagen of limited value to him. Around 1830, he began to experiment in his father's workshop with new models in order to obtain a more powerful tone without losing the softness of the instrument. This led to a broader instrument, with a fuller outline and a lower vault, which is now the common style.

No other violin maker in Norway has had such a profound impact on the design of the Hardanger fiddle as Erik Jonsson Helland.