what was that???

the wife and i were watching the oscars last night , and there were some acoustic performers on, a guy was playing a instrument that looked kind of like a large mandoline. but it had a hand crank comming out of the tailstock and no fingerboard . and he kept his left hand on the top of the headstock the entire time ,, what was that ive got to know thanks JB

I think that guy was Sting and I believe that instrument
is called a hurdy gurdy......
http://www.hurdygurdy.com/hg/hghome.html
....but wasn't it great to hear Allison Krauss?

in a tux i did not reconize him