Hi Irene. There are variously sized and named traditional stringed box zithers, from different times and regions in Europe. Many are what we think of as dulcimer antecedents or ancestors.

Epinette des Vosges are a specific instrument- by definition petite - typically between 13 and 20 inches VSL. Some are only a foot and a half long in total! They have a dainty voice and are tuned higher than the standard mtn dulcimer. At 20" vsl, mine is at the largest end of the epinettes des Vosges spectrum. Mine is very small and light. I'd say anything longer than about 21" or 22" vsl is another instrument altogether. A piccolo at twice the size is not a piccolo -it's a transverse flute. A violin that is 2 to 3" longer is a viola, not a violin.  :)

Vosges is a low mountainous region in Eastern France.  That's where this particular 'box zither' family member hails from. The word 'epinette' is the diminutive form of epine, or espine, meaning spine or thorn. This refers to the use of a sharpened quill or reed used for plucking/strumming the strings.  Similarly, the 'spinette' was an early clavichord like instrument with strings plucked by interior quill plectrums that were controlled by a keyboard.

If you make a 27" vsl box zitter you could call it a scheitholt or hummel or just a box dulcimer, depending on the design and features. But I wouldn't call it an epinette des Vosges. If as you say you always love deeper sounding instruments, you should investigate hummels (some spell it hummle), which are more the vsl size you had in mind- there are many beautiful and varied ones out there. They tend to have taller bodies than mtn dulcimers, and powerful beautiful mellow deep voices!    :)

OH OH OH....this is sooooooooooooo beautiful/darling and I want to make one!!!  Can they be made to be 27 VSL?  I always love a deeper sound in instruments.  When I look at similar European old instruments, many seem to be longer then the one you have here.  Just wondering.  aloha, irene 

que bellissima!

An epinette des Vosges made of all pear wood, custom made by   Michael King in the UK . 

I created the 'garden' vignette designs based on Elizabethan era clothing embroidery known as "black work" seen on museum remnants and in paintings. of the time.  Michael used an old technique called "kolrosing"- lines are encised with a knife, brushed with charcoal, and rubbed with walnut oil. This is a five string 20" VSL scale epinette that I'll tune for the keys of C, Bb, or A. Traditional French epinette peghead shape, small heart and quatrefoil sound holes, two melody strings and three drone strings. For versatility, I opted for 6.5 & 13.5 frets, and geared mandolin tuners rather than zither pins.

I've posted  a discussion about this instrument  in the Dulcimer Ancestors Group.