Boney Fingers
I photographed a skeleton playing an old decorated cello at the Wood & Strings music and repair shop in Arlington, Massachusetts.
Yesterday, October 8, 2026, I was in Arlington, Massachusetts, for a medical appointment. Afterwards, I took a leisurely walk in the area Apple Maps calls Arlington Historic Center at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Pleasant Street, Mystic Street, and the Minuteman Bikeway.
I walked by Wood & Strings, a music instrument and repair shop located at 493 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, Massachusetts (although the website won’t tell you that). A show window displayed a skeleton playing an old decorated cello.
Skeleton Playing an Old Decorated Cello
The old cello is highly decorated; it is set up for playing with good strings, although the hair of the bow is fraying. The cello is painted and decorated with drawings and photographs. The cello has an odd guitar-like soundhole on the front between the F-holes. (I’m sorry about the reflections off the window glass.)
Closer View of the Cello
Octopus on the Lower Bout Behind the Tailpiece
Decorated Upper Bout
Decorated Rib
Guitar-like Soundhole Between F-holes
My wife played me a song containing the following line:
Work your fingers to the bone, what do you get? Boney fingers.
This is from the 1974 song “Boney Fingers,” written by Hoyt Axton and Renee Armand.