Philomel

The philomel (French: Philomèle; German: Philomele or Stahlgeige Italian: Filomela) is a musical instrument similar to the violin, but having four steel wire strings. The fingerboard is fretless, like the violin.

It was invented around Monaco di Baviera in the middle of the nineteenth century and has similarities with the Bowedmelodion, also known as the Streichmelodion.