Kantele

The traditional kantele has neither bridge nor nut, the strings run directly from the tuning pegs to a metal bar (varras) set into wooden brackets (ponsi).

Larger versions of the small kantele often have additional semitone levers, allowing a more varied selection of music to be played without retuning.

Concert versions have a switch mechanism (similar to semitone levers on a modern folk harp) for making sharps and flats, an innovation introduced by Paul Salminen in the 1920s.

In Finland's national epic, Kalevala, the mage Väinämöinen makes the first kantele from the jawbone of a giant pike and a few hairs from Hiisi's stallion (sung excerptⓘ, excerpt lyrics).

Later, after grieving at the loss of his kantele, Väinämöinen makes another one from birch, strung with the hair of a willing maiden, and its magic proves equally profound.

Two five string kanteles by Melodia Soitin (2014). Shape of the upper kantele is more traditional, while the shape for the kantele below is slightly modernised
Koistinen 38-stringed concert kantele
A man plays a kantele with his fingers in 1930s Finland
"The Kantele Player" by Pekka Halonen , 1892
Robert Stigell's 1888 sculpture at Vanha Ylioppilastalo (Old Student House) in Helsinki depicts Väinämöinen with the first kantele, made of a giant pike 's jawbone, as told in the Kalevala national epic.
Three kanteles in the coat of arms of Ilomantsi