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{{Short description|Early modern form of public punishment}}
{{importance|date=May 2008}}
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⚫ A '''shrew's fiddle''' or '''neck violin''' is a variation of the ], ] or rigid irons whereby the wrists are locked in front of the bound person by a hinged board or steel bar.<ref name="rothenberg">{{cite web|url=http://www.scrapbookpages.com/Rothenburg/Tour/CriminalMuseum.html|title=Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Criminal Museum shows Iron Maiden, neck violins and Chastity belts|accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>{{verify credibility}} It was originally used in the 18th century as a way of punishing women who were caught arguing or fighting.<ref name="rothenberg"/><ref name="Vienna">{{cite web|url=http://www.vienna.cc/english/folterm03.htm|title=Museum of Medieval legal history - Halsgeige (neck-viola) and Shame-mask - Medieval torture|accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|image1 = Fomfr double fiddle.jpg
|width1 = 1025
|height1 = 1825
⚫ |caption1 = A shrew's fiddle for two at the torture museum in {{lang|de|]|italic=no}}
|image2 = OHM - Schandgeige.jpg
|width2 = 1712
|height2 = 2560
|caption2 = A shrew's fiddle being worn by a dummy at the {{lang|de|Oberhausmuseum|italic=no}} in {{lang|de|]|italic=no}}
}}
⚫ A '''shrew's fiddle''' or '''neck violin''' is a variation of the ], ], or rigid irons whereby the wrists are locked in front of the bound person by a hinged board, or steel bar. It was originally used in the ] as a way of punishing those who were caught bickering or fighting.<ref name="Vienna">{{cite web |url=http://www.vienna.cc/english/folterm03.htm |title=Halsgeige (neck-viola) and Shame-mask |publisher=Museum of Medieval Legal History |accessdate=2008-05-04 }}</ref>


==History== ==History==
The shrew's fiddle was used in places such as ] and ], where it was known as a ''Halsgeige'', meaning "neck viola"<ref name="Vienna" /> or "neck violin".<ref name="Kuenning">{{cite web|url=http://www.cs.hmc.edu/~geoff/adventures/karlsruhe/rothenburg/|title=Rothenburg|accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>{{verify credibility}} It was originally made out of two pieces of wood which were fitted with a ] and a lock at the front. The shrew's fiddle consisted of three holes. One was a large hole for the head and neck to fit through and the other two were smaller holes which fastened the arms in front of the victim.<ref name="Vienna" /> The shrew's fiddle was used in medieval ] and ], where it was known as a {{lang|de|Halsgeige}}, meaning "neck viola"<ref name="Vienna"/> or "neck violin".<ref name="rublack">{{cite book |last=Rublack |first=Ulinka |title=The Crimes of Women in Early Modern Germany |publisher=] |year=1999 |pages=75 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FF6y3poQ4AYC&dq=neck+violin+punish&pg=PA75 |isbn=0-19-820637-2 }}</ref> It was originally made out of two pieces of wood fitted with a ] and a lock at the front. The shrew's fiddle had three holes: one was a large hole for the neck, and the other two were smaller holes which fastened the wrists in front of the face.<ref name="Vienna"/>


It was first used to punish women who were caught fighting or arguing with other people.<ref name="Vienna" /> Another version was the "double fiddle", which allowed two people to be attached together, face-to-face. This forced the two people to talk to each other. They were not released until the argument had been resolved.<ref name="Kuenning" /> A bell was sometimes attached to this portable pillory, to alert townspeople that the victim was approaching so that they might be mocked and otherwise humiliated. Another version was a "double fiddle," by which two people could be attached together face-to-face, forcing them to talk to each other. They were not released until the argument had been resolved.<ref name="Kuenning">{{cite web |url=http://www.cs.hmc.edu/~geoff/adventures/karlsruhe/rothenburg/ |title=Rothenburg: Torture 101 |work=Adventures in Karlsruhe |first=Geoff |last=Kuenning |publisher=] |date=2005 |accessdate=2008-05-04 }}</ref>

==See also==
* ]
* ]


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Shrew's Fiddle}}
==External links==
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Latest revision as of 15:44, 7 November 2024

Early modern form of public punishment
A shrew's fiddle at the torture museum in Freiburg im Breisgau
A shrew's fiddle for two at the torture museum in Freiburg im BreisgauA shrew's fiddle being worn by a dummy at the Oberhausmuseum in Passau

A shrew's fiddle or neck violin is a variation of the yoke, pillory, or rigid irons whereby the wrists are locked in front of the bound person by a hinged board, or steel bar. It was originally used in the Middle Ages as a way of punishing those who were caught bickering or fighting.

History

The shrew's fiddle was used in medieval Germany and Austria, where it was known as a Halsgeige, meaning "neck viola" or "neck violin". It was originally made out of two pieces of wood fitted with a hinge and a lock at the front. The shrew's fiddle had three holes: one was a large hole for the neck, and the other two were smaller holes which fastened the wrists in front of the face.

A bell was sometimes attached to this portable pillory, to alert townspeople that the victim was approaching so that they might be mocked and otherwise humiliated. Another version was a "double fiddle," by which two people could be attached together face-to-face, forcing them to talk to each other. They were not released until the argument had been resolved.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Halsgeige (neck-viola) and Shame-mask". Museum of Medieval Legal History. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  2. Rublack, Ulinka (1999). The Crimes of Women in Early Modern Germany. Oxford University Press. p. 75. ISBN 0-19-820637-2.
  3. Kuenning, Geoff (2005). "Rothenburg: Torture 101". Adventures in Karlsruhe. Harvey Mudd College. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
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