Thank you all for the sweet compliments, I'll pass them on to Mike.

Irene, the sides and back are walnut. Mike is an avid woodworker, so when he knew I needed a dulcimer, he surprised me with building one. He made two others with the Chestnut, one of which was for our daughter who lives in Golden, CO. I don't think he has any Chestnut left. 

WOAH....wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy beautiful.  I love worm holes in woods for instruments....they loved it too.  ha ha.  Did he use this American chestnut for the sides and back as well?  When folks see this dulcimer, they will want one too...will he go into making more instruments for others?   I hope so, I think that interest in the dulcimer is really RISING...so get prepared.  aloha, irene

Wow that is beautiful

Strumelia, it is wormy American Chestnut, so yes, they are worm holes. My husband wanted to use the American Chestnut since it was the prevalent hardwood in the Appalachian Mountains where the original dulcimer were built. It has a very "mellow" sound.

What a lovely instrument!

Are those strategically positioned natural little knotholes/wormholes?  What beautiful tobacco & gold colors... in the fretboard as well.