Gunnar Olavsson Helland
Encyclopedia
Gunnar Olavsson Helland, (1852 – 1938), was a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker from Bø in Telemark
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Gunnar Olavsson Haugen came from a family of woodcarvers. He married the twin sister of Knut Eriksson Helland
, Gunnhild, in 1871 (Knut was married to Gunnar's sister) and moved to Helland at that time. Shortly after, he began learning the art of making violins from his brother-in-law.
When Knut died in 1880, Gunnar took over both the farm and the fiddle workshop and took the name Helland as his family name. He had the farm for 26 years and then bought the far bigger farm below the church in Bø and called it Helland, now "Hellandtunet", a trade and research center.
He became a great violin maker and won prizes and medals both in Norway and abroad.
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
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Gunnar Olavsson Haugen came from a family of woodcarvers. He married the twin sister of Knut Eriksson Helland
Knut Eriksson Helland
Knut Eriksson Helland, Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker from Bø in Telemark, Norway.Knut Eriksson Helland was the youngest son of Erik Jonsson Helland. He began to work in his fathers workshop at an early age, and showed great skill, especially in making fiddle bridges and gripboard...
, Gunnhild, in 1871 (Knut was married to Gunnar's sister) and moved to Helland at that time. Shortly after, he began learning the art of making violins from his brother-in-law.
When Knut died in 1880, Gunnar took over both the farm and the fiddle workshop and took the name Helland as his family name. He had the farm for 26 years and then bought the far bigger farm below the church in Bø and called it Helland, now "Hellandtunet", a trade and research center.
He became a great violin maker and won prizes and medals both in Norway and abroad.