321.321-5 Necked bowl lutes sounded with the bare fingers

Tambura, wooden lute with carved and fluted back. The four metal strings have bone tuning beads. Wooden bridge.

A long-necked lute that provides a drone accompaniment to the voice, and other stringed instruments. This example is painted with representations of Rama, Sita, Hanuman and Gaṇeśa. Hanuman, peacocks (mounts of Sarasvati), and two bandicoots (mounts of Gaṇeśa) are also depicted. The back of the neck is painted with musicians, and acrobats performing on a rope. Probably made in Sipri, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
MT593-1998
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 927 x 230 x 190 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
wood; metal thread; resin; paint; elephant ivory
CATEGORY
Musical Instruments
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