At the beginning of [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hbK1ul-ZNM&feature=youtu.be) you can see that the strings of the cello have been tied with a shoelace right below the bridge. 
[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/V4BEg.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/V4BEg.png)

What is the purpose of this? Is it just decoration or is it something like a string eliminator:

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/jjexb.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/jjexb.jpg)