Jon Eriksson Helland
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Jon Eriksson Helland (1790 - 1862) (born Jon Eriksson Hellos) was a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker from Bø in Telemark.
Jon Eriksson Helland was the founder of the fiddle making tradition in Bø. His name was originally Jon Eriksson Hellos, and he was born in Bø on the cotter's subfarm of Hellos on the Eika farm. He married Ingeborg Eilevsdatter Helland on the Helland farm and took its name after moving there.
It is said that Jon from Hellos brought the artistic talents into the Helland family. His mother's father was Gunleik Gåra, a well-known master singer. The son of Jon's brother was the master fiddle player Hans Flatland the elder. Jon Eriksen Helland learned the skill of fiddlemaking while serving his military duty in Danmark and, later from Olav Gullbekk and Karl Rue in Telemark.
The major features of his fiddles, broadly speaking followed the patterns and shapes of the Hardanger fiddles of that time. He also made violins in the Italian style.
