"The vielle is a European bowed stringed instrument used in the medieval period, similar to a modern violin but with a somewhat longer and deeper body, three to five gut strings, and a leaf-shaped pegbox with frontal tuning pegs, sometimes with a figure-8 shaped body." (From Wikipedia)

@Gordon Shumway had an interesting post "What bowed instrument does Kermit play?" that led me to "Unprofitable Instruments" on YouTube, which in turn led me to her page where she demonstrated a vielle. I found it very interesting!